Pro-angiogenic fragments of prominin-1 and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Described have herein are peptide analogs of a prominin-1 peptide, DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO:1) which have enhanced regenerative and/or angiogenesis activity, increase VEGF binding to endothelial cells, and/or increase wound healing activity relative to the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. Provided herein are fusion proteins and compositions comprising these peptide analogs and uses thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.: 13/575,858, filed Oct. 23, 2012, which application is a national-stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2011/022749, filed Jan. 27, 2011, entitled “Pro-Angiogenic Fragments of Promonin-1 and Uses Thereof,” by Adini, et al., which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/298,729, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled “Pro-Angiogenic Fragments of Promonin-1 and Uses Thereof,” by Adini, et al., each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to peptides and proteins with regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic properties and the modulation of the biological effects of pro-angiogenic factors.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Angiogenesis is the formation, development and growth of new blood vessels. The normal regulation of angiogenesis is governed by a fine balance between factors that induce the formation of blood vessels and those that halt or inhibit the process. When this balance is upset, it generally results in pathological angiogenesis. A great number of pathologies arise from either an excess of angiogenesis or, conversely, an insufficient angiogenesis. Regulating angiogenesis with angiogenic (for insufficient angiogenesis) or angiostatic (for excessive angiogenesis) factors is therefore of great therapeutic interest in a number of medical fields such as ophthalmology, oncology and dermatology. Regulation of angiogenesis can provide approaches for the treatment of vascular diseases, for example diseases characterized by poor capillarity and/or neurogenesis, including stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral muscle impairment associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, wound healing, and Alzheimer's disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The methods and compositions described herein are based in part on the discovery of a peptide that induces enhanced endothelial cell binding to VEGF. Previously, the inventors found that the native peptide #237, having the sequence DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 1) binds VEGF (see table 1), an endogenous pro-angiogenesis factor that is important for normal growth and development but is also involved during unwanted and aberrant vascularization such as in cancer and diabetic retinopathy. The peptides described herein are variants of this fragment of the penta span transmembrane glycoprotein prominin-1 (prom-1). Modified peptides described herein exhibit enhanced VEGF-related binding activity over that of a native non-modified prominin-1 peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. (see FIG. 9; Example 10). In addition, the #237 peptide promoted VEGF binding to other cell types, promoted proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro, and enhanced angiogenesis and cell migration in the presence of VEGF. The modified peptides described herein and further variants based upon it are useful in promoting angiogenesis, such as in wound healing, burns, tissue repair, fertility treatments, myocardial infarction, hypertrophied hearts, revascularization of tissue after disease and trauma (e.g., stroke, ischemic limbs, vascular diseases, bone repair), tissue grafts and tissue engineered constructs. Further, because the peptides and peptide derivatives described herein potentiate the effects of VEGF, they are also to be considered for their effects on other activities mediated by VEGF. For example, VEGF is a neurotrophic factor that exhibits neuroprotective properties. The peptides and derivatives described herein are also useful for promoting nerve growth, neuroprotection, vasodilation, modulation of blood pressure, and treatment of erectile dysfunction.

The inventors showed that the following variations of peptide #237DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1) are able to promote VEGF binding to endothelial cells over control levels, i.e., in the absence of any peptide: DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1), RVQRQTTTVVAG (SEQ. ID. NO: 29), VQRQTTTVVAGI (SEQ. ID. NO: 30), DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 6), DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), DAVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 39), DRAQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 40) DRVARQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 41), DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 11), DRVQRQATTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 42) and DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ. ID. NO: 47).

The data show that deletions of amino acids are tolerated since removal of the first two amino acids at the N-terminus results in a peptide that still has activity. Also the data show that additions of amino acids are tolerated since addition of two amino acids to the C-terminal end of the peptide results in a peptide that still has activity. Further, our alanine substitution screen shows that both non-conservative and conservative alanine substitutions were active in the peptide at positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 relative to the parent 12-mer peptide DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1). Taken together with the deletion data showing that positions 1 and 2 can be deleted and still be active, it is contemplated that analogs of peptide #237 with amino acid substitutions at positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 will be active.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, an isolated peptide consisting essentially of the molecule having the amino acid sequence formula of (B#)(VnQnRnQnTnTcTcVcVcAn)(Z#), wherein Vn, Qn, Rn, Qn, Tn, and An represent the amino acids V, Q, R, T and A and non-conservative and conservative amino acid substitutions thereof; wherein Tc and Vc represent the amino acids T and V and conservative substitutions thereof; wherein B and Z are any of the known 20 amino acids or derivatives thereof; wherein “#” is a number varying from 0-20 independently for each of B and Z; and wherein said peptide binds VEGF or enhances VEGF binding to cells in an in vitro assay.

In one embodiment, provided herein is an isolated peptide comprising a molecule having the amino acid sequence of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than arginine (R). In one embodiment, the peptide consists essentially of the molecule having the amino acid sequence of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than arginine (R).

In another embodiment, the amino acid at the position 6 can also be changed to one that is more hydrophobic than glutamine (Q). In another embodiment, the amino acids at the positions 5 and 6 are both changed to one that is more hydrophobic than arginine and glutamine respectively.

In one embodiment, provided herein is an isolated peptide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 3), DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 4), DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 5) and DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 6).

In another embodiment, provided herein is an isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the X amino acid in position 5 is selected from the group consisting of valine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, proline, alanine, glycine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than arginine.

In another embodiment, the amino acid in position 6 is selected from the group consisting of valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, proline, alanine, glycine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than glutamine.

In one embodiment, the peptides described herein can bind VEGF and/or enhance VEGF binding by endothelial cells.

In one embodiment, the peptides described increase wound healing as compared to the parent original peptide DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1).

In other embodiments, the peptide further comprises a conservative amino acid substitution at a position other than positions 5 and/or 6 and binds VEGF in an in vitro assay, and/or enhances VEGF binding by endothelial cells, e.g., at positions 2 and/or 7.

In one embodiment, the peptides described herein bind VEGF in an in vitro assay, such as the endothelial cell VEGF binding assay described herein.

In one embodiment, the peptides described herein have regenerative activity. In another embodiment, the peptides described herein promote angiogenesis.

In another embodiment, the peptides described herein enhance VEGF binding to endothelial cells.

In one embodiment, the peptides described herein enhance angiogenesis in the presence of a pro-angiogenic factor.

In another embodiment, the peptides described herein enhance cell migration in the presence of a pro-angiogenic factor.

In one embodiment, the peptides described herein exhibit neuroprotective properties such as stimulation of neuronal growth, promotion of nerve regeneration, and prevention or delay in neuron cell death.

In one embodiment, a peptide as described herein is a cyclic peptide.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a cyclic peptide having the formula C(Bn)(DRVQXQTTTVVA)(Zn)C (SEQ ID NO: 7) or AC(Bn)(DRVQXQTTTVVA)(Zn)C (SEQ ID NO: 8) wherein the amino acid X is any amino acid that is more hydrophobic than arginine, wherein B and Z are any of the known 20 amino acids or derivatives thereof and “n” is a number varying from 0-20, and wherein (Zn) and (Bn) are used as spacers in the cyclic peptide. In one embodiment, B and Z are glycine residues. For example: CG₅(DRVQAQTTTVVA)G₅C (SEQ. ID. NO. 9) or ACG₃(DRVQMQTTTVVA)G₅C (SEQ. ID. NO. 10).

In another embodiment, the cyclic peptide further comprises a conservative amino acid substitution at a position other than position X.

In one embodiment, a peptide as described herein is conjugated to a polymer.

In one embodiment, a peptide as described herein is PEGylated.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a fusion protein that comprises a peptide as described herein fused to a heterologous peptide or polypeptide.

In some embodiments, variants or derivatives of the peptides described herein are encompassed by the various embodiments described herein and these variants or derivatives can bind VEGF.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition that comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide or cyclic peptide, fusion protein, variants or derivatives thereof described herein.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a method of promoting cell proliferation in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative thereof as described herein.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative thereof as described herein.

In one embodiment, the method is applied in the context of promoting wound healing, burns, tissue repair, bone repair, fertility promotion, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, treatment of erectile dysfunction, modulation of blood pressure, revascularization after disease or trauma, tissue grafts, or tissue engineered constructs.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a method of promoting wound healing, the method comprising contacting the wound with a peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative described herein, whereby wound healing is enhanced relative to wound healing in the absence of such peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative thereof.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of promoting neuroprotection, the method comprising contacting a neuronal cell with a peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative thereof described herein, wherein the peptide binds VEGF, and wherein the contacting promotes neuroprotection of the neuronal cell.

In another embodiment of this aspect and all other aspects described herein, the contacting step comprises administering a composition comprising a peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative thereof described herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to an individual in need thereof, e.g., an individual in need of neuroprotection. In the neuroprotection embodiments, one first diagnoses an individual in need of neuroprotection or neuronal growth, and then contacts the tissue with a prom-1 peptide (peptide, cyclic peptide, fusion protein or variant or derivative thereof) as described herein.

In another embodiment of this aspect and all other aspects described herein, the contacting step prevents or delays neuronal cell death relative to neuronal cell death occurring in the absence of the contacting.

Definitions

As used herein, the term “regenerative activity” refers to the capacity to stimulate or mediate the restoration of functional tissue following insult, disease or disorder that destroys or damages tissue. In one embodiment, “regenerative activity” refers to lessening, preventing and/or mitigating tissue degeneration resulting from a degenerative disease, e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. In one embodiment, “regenerative activity” comprises pro-angiogenic activity. In another embodiment, “regenerative activity” comprises neuroprotection and/or stimulation of neuronal growth activity. Assays for “regenerative activity” include but are not limited to angiogenesis assays, wound healing assay, bone repair assay, neuronal growth assay, and use of mouse models of various diseases (e.g., ALS, MS, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease).

As used herein, the term “pro-angiogenic activity” refers to the stimulation or enhancement of angiogenesis and/or endothelial cell proliferation.

As used herein, the term “variant” when used in reference to a peptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 refers to a peptide that has one or more conservative amino acid substitutions relative to SEQ. ID. NOS: 3, 4, 5, and 6, at a position other than position 5 and that retains the ability to bind VEGF and/or enhance the ability of endothelial cells to bind VEGF. Conservative amino acid substitutions are well known to one skilled in the art. For example, the amino acid serine can be substituted for threonine and the amino acid aspartate may be substituted for glutamate.

In one aspect, the term “variant” refers to a VEGF-binding peptide that has one or more conservative amino acid substitutions relative to SEQ ID NOS: 3, 4, 5, and 6, at a position other than position 5 but substantially retains one or more of the VEGF-binding, regenerative, pro-angiogenic, pro-cell proliferation, pro-cell migration, and/or neuroprotective activities of the original peptide as the specific case may be. By “substantially retain” means the activity of the variant is at least 50% compared to the activity of the original peptide in a similar assay, under similar conditions; preferably the activity is at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%, at least 100%, at least 2-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 100-fold or higher activity compared to the original peptide. The VEGF-binding, regenerative, pro-angiogenic, pro-cell proliferation, pro-cell migration, and/or neuroprotective activities of the variant peptide are determined by methods well known in the art and by the methods described herein.

As used herein, a “derivative” of a peptide is a form of a given peptide that is chemically modified relative to the reference peptide, the modification including, but not limited to, oligomerization or polymerization, modifications of amino acid residues or peptide backbone, cross-linking, cyclization, conjugation, fusion to additional heterologous amino acid sequences, or other modifications that substantially alter the stability, solubility, or other properties of the peptide while substantially retaining VEGF binding activity or the ability to enhance VEGF binding to endothelial cells.

As used herein, the term “conservative amino acid substitution” is one in which a given amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a side chain with a similar charge. Families of amino acid residues having side chains with similar charges have been defined in the art. These families include amino acids with basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine), nonpolar side chains (e.g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) and aromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine). Specific examples of conservative amino acid substitutions are described herein below.

As used herein, the term “peptide mimetic” or “peptidomimetic” refers to a peptide mimetic of a peptide described herein that biologically mimics the peptide's functions, such as VEGF-binding, regenerative, pro-angiogenic, pro-cell proliferation, pro-cell migration, and/or neuroprotective activities of a prominin-1 peptide as described herein. By “biologically mimics” is meant that a peptidomimetic derivative of a peptide as described herein has at least 50% of the regenerative, pro-angiogenic, pro-proliferative, pro-cell migration, pro-wound healing and/or neuroprotective activity of the peptide itself. In one embodiment, “biologically mimics” is meant that a peptidomimetic derivative of a peptide as described herein has at least 50% of the VEGF binding activity and/or at least 50% of the regenerative, pro-angiogenic, pro-proliferative, pro-cell migration, and/or neuroprotective activity of the peptide itself.

As used herein, the term “amino acid” of a peptide refers to naturally occurring and synthetic amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acid mimetics that function in a manner similar to the naturally occurring amino acids. Naturally occurring amino acids are those encoded by the genetic code, as well as those amino acids that are later modified, e.g., hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate, and O-phosphoserine. Amino acid analogs refers to compounds that have the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid, i.e., an a carbon that is bound to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and an R group, e.g., homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, methionine methyl sulfonium. Such analogs have modified R groups (e.g., norleucine) or modified peptide backbones, but retain the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid. Amino acids can be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, can be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes. In one embodiment, the amino acids in a peptide described herein are naturally occurring amino acids.

By “conjugated” is meant the covalent linkage of at least two molecules. As described herein, an isolated peptide can be conjugated to a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer to increase its serum half-life.

The term “fragment” refers to any peptide or polypeptide having an amino acid residue sequence shorter than that of a full-length polypeptide whose amino acid residue sequence is described herein. For example, an isolated peptide of prominin-1 is shortened or truncated compared to its parent full-length prominin-1. The polypeptide can have N-terminus or C-terminus truncations and/or also internal deletions.

As used herein, the term “homologous proteins” or “homologs” refers to proteins that look similar by way of amino acid sequences and can work in similar ways in different species of organism. For example, human, rabbit, rat, mouse, horse, cow, pig and chicken express transferrins and these transferrins from the various organisms all have the same function of transporting iron. The polypeptides of these transferrin are approximately of the same molecular size and structure, have the same number of domains (one N- and one C-terminal domain), again each domain of approximately the same size, and the same number, type and position of protein secondary folds such as beta-sheets and alpha helices. When the sequences are aligned, homologous proteins have exactly the same amino acid residues at certain amino acid positions in the polypeptide (i.e., highly conserved regions) and also similar amino acid residues at other amino acid positions in the polypeptide.

As used herein, “heterologous expression” refers to protein expression in an organism or tissue or cell type that is different from that of the transgene or coding nucleic acid being expressed into protein in nature. For example, the coding nucleic acid is derived from human, but the coding nucleic acid is used to express the coded protein is a non-human organism (e.g., yeast or hamster) or non-human cells.

As used herein, a “heterologous protein or peptide” refers to a protein or peptide that is not naturally expressed in an organism or cell. A “heterologous protein” can be expressed when the coding nucleic acid that codes for it is introduced into the organism that does not naturally express the “heterologous protein”.

Sequence identity is typically measured using sequence analysis software (e.g., Sequence Analysis Software Package of the Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, 1710 University Avenue, Madison, Wis. 53705). Such software matches similar sequences by assigning degrees of homology to various substitutions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications.

The term “isolated” means the protein is removed from its natural surroundings. However, some of the components found with it may continue to be with an “isolated” protein. Thus, an “isolated protein” is not as it appears in nature but may be substantially less than 100% pure protein.

The term “vector” as used herein, refers to a nucleic acid construct designed for delivery to a host cell or transfer between different host cells. As used herein, a vector can be viral or non-viral. In embodiment, the vector permits the expression of a sequence encoded within the vector.

As used herein, a “retroviral vector” refers to an expression vector that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a transgene and that further comprises nucleotide sequences necessary for packaging of the vector. Preferably, the retroviral transfer vector also comprises the necessary sequences for expressing the transgene in host cells.

As used herein, the term “pro-angiogenic factors” refers to factors that directly or indirectly promote new blood vessel formation (e.g., neovascularization).

As used herein, the term “binds VEGF in an in vitro assay” means, at a minimum, that a given peptide (or polypeptide) binds VEGF in an assay, for example, as described herein in Example 1 or in an assay for enhanced VEGF binding to endothelial cells described herein.

As used herein, the term “enhances VEGF binding to endothelial cells” refers to an increase in VEGF binding to endothelial cells of at least 10% (as assessed by measuring binding of e.g., ¹²⁵I-VEGF to endothelial cells as described herein in the Examples section) in the presence of both VEGF and a subject peptide or variant or derivative thereof, compared to the amount of VEGF binding to endothelial cells when VEGF is administered alone. Preferably, the subject peptide, variant or derivative, enhances VEGF binding to endothelial cells by at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%, at least 1-fold, at least 2-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 100-fold, at least 1000-fold or more compared to VEGF binding when VEGF is administered in the absence of such peptide, variant or derivative.

As used herein, the terms “increasing angiogenesis”, “promoting angiogenesis” or “enhancing angiogenesis” refer to an increase in at least one measurable marker of angiogenesis by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%, at least 1-fold, at least 2-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 100-fold, at least 1000-fold or more, in the presence of a peptide, variant or derivative thereof relative to that marker in the absence of such agent. The terms recited above also encompass co-treatment of a cell or subject with VEGF and such a peptide, variant or derivative, wherein an increase as described above is determined by comparing the angiogenic marker to the effect of VEGF alone on the same marker. To date, six human VEGF mRNA species, encoding VEGF isoforms of 121, 145, 165, 183, 189 and 206 amino acids, are produced by alternative splicing of the VEGF mRNA. The determination of VEGF binding to endothelial cells can be performed with any VEGF isoform that promotes angiogenesis, for example, at least isoform VEGF₁₆₅, VEGF₁₂₁, and VEGF₁₈₉. In one embodiment, radiolabelled VEGF₁₆₅ is used to determine VEGF binding to endothelial cells.

Endothelial cell migration can be assessed, for example, by measuring the migration of cells through a porous membrane using a commercially available kit such as BD BioCoat Angiogenesis System or through a Boyden chamber apparatus. Thus, as used herein, the term “enhances cell migration” refers, at a minimum, to an increase in the migration of endothelial cells through a porous membrane of at least 10% in the presence of a subject peptide, variant or derivative; preferably the increase is at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%, at least 1-fold, at least 2-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 100-fold, at least 1000-fold or more in the presence of a peptide, variant or derivative, as that term is used herein.

Endothelial cell growth can be determined, for example, by measuring cell proliferation using an MTS assay commercially available from a variety of companies including RnD Systems, and Promega, among others. Thus, as used herein, the term “enhances cell proliferation” refers to an increase in the number of endothelial cells of at least 10% in the presence of a peptide, variant or derivative described herein (as assessed using e.g., an MTS assay); preferably the increase is at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%, at least 1-fold, at least 2-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 100-fold, at least 1000-fold or more.

The term “wound” as used herein refers broadly to injuries to an organ or tissue of an organism that typically involves division of tissue or rupture of a membrane (e.g., skin), due to external violence, a mechanical agency, or infectious disease. The term “wound” encompasses injuries including, but not limited to, lacerations, abrasions, avulsions, cuts, velocity wounds (e.g., gunshot wounds), penetration wounds, puncture wounds, contusions, hematomas, tearing wounds, and/or crushing injuries. In one aspect, the term “wound” refers to an injury to the skin and subcutaneous tissue initiated in any one of a variety of ways (e.g., pressure sores from extended bed rest, wounds induced by trauma, cuts, ulcers, burns and the like) and with varying characteristics. Skin wounds are typically classified into one of four grades depending on the depth of the wound: (i) Grade I: wounds limited to the epithelium; (ii) Grade II: wounds extending into the dermis; (iii) Grade III: wounds extending into the subcutaneous tissue; and (iv) Grade IV (or full-thickness wounds): wounds wherein bones are exposed (e.g., a bony pressure point such as the greater trochanter or the sacrum).

As used herein, the term “wound healing” refers to a process by which the body of a wounded organism initiates repair of a tissue at the wound site (e.g., skin). In one embodiment, wound healing also includes healing of burn wounds. The wound healing process requires, in part, angiogenesis and revascularization of the wounded tissue. Wound healing can be measured by assessing such parameters as contraction, area of the wound, percent closure, percent closure rate, and/or infiltration of blood vessels as known to those of skill in the art or as described herein in the section entitled “Wound healing assays”.

As used herein, the term “promotes neuroprotection” refers to conditions under which neuronal cell death (necrotic, apoptotic or otherwise) is prevented or decreased, e.g., by at least 20%, and preferably at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 90%, at least 95% or more, up to and including, 100% (complete protection) in the presence of an agent, such as a peptide disclosed herein, at least 10×, at least 20× or more in the presence of an agent, such as the peptides as set forth in this application, relative to the absence of that agent. In one embodiment, the term also refers to conditions under which neuronal cell growth, axonal elongation, neuronal proliferation or functional organization is increased by at least 20%, and preferably at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 90%, at least 95% or more, up to and including, for example, at least 1×, at least 2×, at least 3×, at least 5×, at least 10×, at least 20× or more in the presence of an agent, relative to the absence of such agent. Effects of neuroprotection can be assessed by any assay known in the art, e.g., neural cell death, neural outgrowth etc. or as described herein.

As used herein, the term “stimulates neuronal growth” refers to conditions under which neuronal cell growth (e.g., axonal growth, trophism) is increased e.g., by at least 20%, and preferably at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 90%, at least 95% or more, up to and including, for example, at least 1×, at least 2×, at least 3×, at least 5×, at least 10×, or at least 20× or more in the presence of an agent, such as a peptide composition set forth herein, relative to the absence of that agent.

As used herein, the term “contacting neurons” refers to any mode of peptide delivery or “administration” either to cells, or to whole organisms in which the peptide is capable of exhibiting its pharmacological effect in neurons. “Contacting neurons” is intended to include both in vivo and in vitro methods of bringing an agent as described herein into proximity with a neuron, particularly in a neuron in need of protection or stimulation, e.g., in neurodegenerative disease such has Parkinson's and ALS. Suitable modes of administration can be determined by those skilled in the art, and such modes of administration may vary between peptides. For example, when axonal growth of CNS neurons is stimulated ex vivo, peptides can be administered, for example, by transfection, lipofection, electroporation, viral vector infection, or by addition to growth medium. An in vivo means of contacting neurons with an agent that stimulate growth of neurons include, but is not limited to, for example, the assay that is described in Yin et al, 2003, J. Neurosci. 23:2284, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

As used herein, the term “treat” or “treatment” refers to reducing or alleviating at least one adverse effect or symptom associated with a medical condition, e.g., diseases or disorders related to degeneration. In one embodiment, “treat” or “treatment” refers to reducing or alleviating at least one adverse effect or symptom associated with medical conditions that are associated with wounds burns, neuronal damage, neuron degeneration, cell degeneration, tissue damage, bone damage, infertility, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, erectile dysfunction and hypertension. In one embodiment, “treat” or “treatment” refers to increased collateral artery growth, revascularization after disease or trauma and tissue grafts in tissues or subjects in need thereof.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutical composition” refers to the active agent in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of chemicals and compounds commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” excludes tissue culture medium.

As used herein the term “comprising” or “comprises” is used in reference to compositions, methods, and respective component(s) thereof, that are essential to the invention, yet open to the inclusion of unspecified elements, whether essential or not.

As used herein the term “consisting essentially of” refers to those elements required for a given embodiment. The term permits the presence of elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel or functional characteristic(s) of that embodiment of the invention.

The term “consisting of” refers to compositions, methods, and respective components thereof as described herein, which are exclusive of any element not recited in that description of the embodiment.

Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Definitions of common terms in cell biology and molecular biology can be found in “The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy”, 18th Edition, published by Merck Research Laboratories, 2006 (ISBN 0-911910-18-2); Robert S. Porter et al. (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, published by Blackwell Science Ltd., 1994 (ISBN 0-632-02182-9); Robert A. Meyers (ed.), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: a Comprehensive Desk Reference, published by VCH Publishers, Inc., 1995 (ISBN 1-56081-569-8); The ELISA guidebook (Methods in molecular biology 149) by Crowther J. R. (2000); and Fundamentals of RIA and Other Ligand Assays by Jeffrey Travis, 1979, Scientific Newsletters; Immunology by Werner Luttmann, published by Elsevier, 2006. Definitions of common terms in molecular biology are also be found in Benjamin Lewin, Genes IX, published by Jones & Bartlett Publishing, 2007 (ISBN-13: 9780763740634); Kendrew et al. (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, published by Blackwell Science Ltd., 1994 (ISBN 0-632-02182-9); and Current Protocols in Protein Sciences 2009, Wiley Intersciences, Coligan et al., eds.

Unless otherwise stated, the present invention was performed using standard procedures, as described, for example in Methods in Enzymology, Volume 289: Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis, J. N. Abelson, M. I. Simon, G. B. Fields (Editors), Academic Press; 1st edition (1997) (ISBN-13: 978-0121821906); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,965,343, and 5,849,954; Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., USA (1982); Sambrook and Russel, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3rd Ed.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., USA (2001); Davis et al., Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, Elsevier Science Publishing, Inc., New York, USA (1986); or Methods in Enzymology: Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques Vol. 152, S. L. Berger and A. R. Kimmerl Eds., Academic Press Inc., San Diego, USA (1987), Current Protocols in Protein Science (CPPS) (John E. Coligan, et al., ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), Current Protocols in Cell Biology (CPCB) (Juan S. Bonifacino et al. ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique by R. Ian Freshney, Publisher: Wiley-Liss; 5th edition (2005), and Animal Cell Culture Methods (Methods in Cell Biology, Vol. 57, Jennie P. Mather and David Barnes editors, Academic Press, 1st edition, 1998) which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients or reaction conditions used herein should be understood as modified in all instances by the term “about.” The term “about” when used in connection with percentages may mean ±1%.

The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further to be understood that all base sizes or amino acid sizes, and all molecular weight or molecular mass values, given for nucleic acids or polypeptides are approximate, and are provided for description. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. The abbreviation, “e.g.” is derived from the Latin exempli gratia, and is used herein to indicate a non-limiting example. Thus, the abbreviation “e.g.” is synonymous with the term “for example.”

All patents and other publications identified are expressly incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the methodologies described in such publications that might be used in connection with the present invention. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing in this regard should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents is based on the information available to the applicants and does not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows prominin-1 fragments bind VEGF. Black dots that are above the background were chosen as candidates for VEGF binding peptides.

FIG. 1B shows peptide sequences derived from the extracellular domains of Prominin-1 that bind VEGF. FIG. 1B discloses SEQ. ID. NOS: 23-26, 1 and 27, respectively, in order of appearance.

FIG. 2 shows that peptide #237 increased VEGF binding to endothelial cells and melanoma cells. 10000 cells were incubated in binding buffer containing 20 mM Hepes, 0.1% BSA and I¹²⁵-VEGF (12 ng/ml) for 3 h on ice.

FIG. 2A shows that peptide #237 increased VEGF binding to endothelial cells.

FIG. 2B shows that peptide #237 increased VEGF binding to melanoma cells.

FIG. 3A shows that prominin-1 extracellular fragments increase human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation.

FIG. 3B shows that prominin-1 extracellular fragments increase human B16-F10 melanoma cell proliferation.

FIG. 4A shows the effect of Hydron pellets containing VEGF (160 ng/pellet) or VEGF+#237 (1.3 ug/pellet) implanted into mouse corneas. Vigorous vessel in-growth from the limbus at 5 days was recorded as a positive response.

FIG. 4B is a histogram of the cornea angiogenesis data of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 shows that the prominin-1 peptide #237 dramatically increases endothelial cell migration. Shown are data from the FACS analyses of MATRIGEL™ liberated cells from two groups of treated mice.

FIG. 6A shows the wound healing on a nude mouse ear wound (2.25 mm circular wound size) with plain matrigel after 5 days. MATRIGEL™ solution had minimal effect on neovascularization.

FIG. 6B shows the wound healing on a nude mouse ear wound (2.25 mm circular wound size) with matrigel containing the prominin-1 peptide #237 (180 μg) after 5 days. The prominin-1 derived peptide #237 MATRIGEL™ solution significantly increased the neovascularization around the ear wound site (X4).

FIG. 7 is a bar graph showing the results of experiments indicating that the effect of peptides derived from peptide #237 on VEGF binding to endothelial cells is sequence dependent. FIG. 7 discloses SEQ ID NOS 1, 1, 1, 1, and 29-37, respectively, in order of appearance.

FIG. 8A is a representative experiment showing the effects of peptide #237 on wound healing in a mouse ear punch model.

FIG. 8B is a is a bar graph showing the results of experiments indicating that the peptide #237 promotes wound healing after 14 days in a mouse ear punch model.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are representative histograms showing the effects of various alanine substitutions in the #237 peptides on endothelial cells binding to VEGF. Each of the 12 amino acid residues of the original #237 peptide was singly replaced by alanine.

FIG. 9C discloses twelve alanine substitution #237 peptides, SEQ. ID. NOS. 38-41, 3, 11, 42-47 respectively, in order of appearance. Note that the amino acid at position 12 of SEQ. ID. NO: 1 is alanine; this amino acid was substituted with glycine in the Ala-12 substitution variant.

FIG. 10A are laser doppler images showing the effects of direct injection of either saline or peptide #237 to the ischemic site (800 μg) in a mouse hind limb ischemia model. Mice were ligated in both of their femoral arteries to simulate hind limb ischemia. The blood flow in mice was analyzed by machine for each mouse before and immediately after the procedure to evaluate if the femoral was ligated properly. (Note that amino acid 12 of SEQ. ID. NO: 1 is alanine; this amino acid was substituted with glycine in the Ala-12 substitution variant.)

FIG. 10B are laser doppler images showing the effects of injection by pumps of either the saline or peptide #237 to the ischemic site (800 μg) in a mouse hind limb ischemia model. Just the left femoral artery was ligated to simulate hind limb ischemia. Mice from group B were treated systemically by pumps that were implanted to the mouse's back one day prior to the procedure. The peptide and the control (saline) were released slowly from the pump in a rate of 0.5 ug/hour. The blood flow was analyzed by machine for each mouse before and immediately after the procedure to evaluate if the femoral was ligated properly. Black areas indicate no blood flow. White areas indicate blood flow. Dark shades within the white areas at the distal end of limbs indicate high blood flow.

FIG. 11 shows the laser Doppler images of ischemic mouse tissue treated with saline (control), peptide #237 (SEQ. ID. NO: 1), and peptide #237-V (SEQ. ID NO: 4). Animals were ligated in the right limb. In the laser Doppler images, the ischemic limbs are on the left side of each image. Black areas indicate no blood flow. White areas indicate blood flow. Dark shades within the white area at the distal end of limbs indicate high blood flow.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the blood flow of the ischemic hind limb in FIG. 11 as the ratio between the perfusion of the ischemic limb and the uninjured limb. Variant V is peptide #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 4).

FIG. 13 is a graph showing #237 analogs: V=#237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 4), Q=#237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 5) and M=#237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 6) improve wound healing in mice compared to control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The methods and compositions described herein are based in part on the discovery of a peptide that induces enhanced endothelial cell binding to VEGF. The peptide described herein is a variant of a fragment of the penta span transmembrane glycoprotein prominin-1 (prom-1). The variant peptide exhibited dramatically enhanced VEGF-related binding activity over that of a native non-modified prominin-1 peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; also referred to as peptide #237 herein (see FIG. 9; Example 10). Previously, the inventors found that the native peptide #237, having the sequence DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 1), binds VEGF (see table 1), an endogenous pro-angiogenesis factor that is important for normal growth and development but is also involved during unwanted and aberrant vascularization such as in cancer and diabetic retinopathy. In addition, the #237 peptide promoted VEGF binding to other cell types, promoted proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro, and enhanced angiogenesis and cell migration in the presence of VEGF. The modified peptide described herein and further variants based upon it are useful in promoting regenerative activity and angiogenesis, such as in wound healing, burns, tissue repair, fertility treatments, myocardial infarction, hypertrophied hearts, revascularization of tissue after disease and trauma (e.g., stroke, ischemic limbs, vascular diseases, bone repair), tissue grafts and tissue engineered constructs.

The inventors changed each of the 12 amino acid residues in peptide #237 to a more hydrophobic amino acid alanine and performed experiments examining the effect of the alanine substitution at the various positions on endothelial cells binding to VEGF. Only one amino acid residue was changed in any one peptide. A total of 12 alanine-substituted peptides were made and tested: Ala-1, Ala-2, Ala-3, Ala-4, Ala-5, Ala-6, Ala-7, Ala-8, Ala-9, Ala-10, Ala-11, Ala-12, (Note, Ala-12 includes a glycine substitution at position 12, which is naturally alanine) (SEQ. ID. NOS. 38-41, 3, 11, 42-47 respectively) wherein the number indicates the position where the alanine substitution occurred. When the polar and more hydrophilic amino acid residue arginine at position 5 is replaced by the nonpolar hydrophobic amino acid residue alanine, the modified peptide showed a marked increase in endothelial cell binding to VEGF. The ability of endothelial cells to bind VEGF is increased by more than twice relative to the activity of native non modified peptide #237.

The alanine substitution peptides of #237 described herein were identified based on their ability to bind VEGF, such as VEGF₁₆₅, VEGF₁₂₁, and VEGF₁₄₅. The subject peptides can potentiate the activity of VEGF in processes including angiogenesis, cell migration, vasodilation, and cell proliferation. Given these effects on the various activities of VEGF, it is considered that the peptides described herein, and variants and derivatives that bind VEGF can influence other effects of VEGF, including, for example, neurotrophic and neuroprotective effect, cell migration, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. In one embodiment, the peptides described herein are administered to potentiate the vasodilatory effect of VEGF for the treatment or regulation of high blood pressure and/or erectile dysfunction.

The human prominin-1 (aka AC133, CD133, MSTP061, PROML1, RP41, prominin 1, hProminin, prominin (mouse)-like 1, hematopoietic stem cell antigen; Genbank Accession No.: NM_006017.1; NP_006008.1; AF027208.1) (SEQ. ID. NO. 28) is a penta span transmembrane glycoprotein (5-TMD) expressed in stem cells, primarily on the apical membrane of epithelial cells, and is a marker of hematopoietic stem cells. It belongs to a molecular family of 5-transmembrane domain (TMD) proteins, pfam prominin. This “family” includes members from several different species including human, mouse, rat, fly, zebrafish and nematode worms. The 5-TMD structure includes an extracellular N-terminus, two short intracellular loops, two large extracellular loops and an intracellular C-terminus. Prom-1 was initially shown to be expressed on primitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and on retinoblastoma cells. However, prom-1 has since been shown to be expressed on hemangioblasts, and neural stem cells as well as on developing epithelia. The prom-1 positive fractions of human bone marrow, cord blood and peripheral blood efficiently engraft in xenotransplantation models, and contain the majority of the granulocyte/macrophage precursors, NOD/SCID repopulating cells and CD34+dendritic cell precursors. Phenotypically, prom-1 positive cells in blood and marrow are CD34 bright, with CD34 dim CD71 bright cells being negative for prom-1 expression. Prom-1 is also found in extracellular membrane particles in body fluids. No natural ligand has yet been demonstrated for prom-1, and its specific function in hematopoietic tissue is unknown (Corbeil, D., et al, Blood. 1998, 91:2625-6; Miraglia S, et al., Blood. 1997, 90:5013-21; Weigmann A, et al, Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1997, 94:12425-30). The exact function of prominin is unknown although in humans, defects in PROM1, the gene coding for prominin, cause retinal degeneration.

The inventors showed that the following variations of peptide #237DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1) are able to promote VEGF binding to endothelial cells over control levels, i.e., in the absence of any peptide: DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1), RVQRQTTTVVAG (SEQ. ID. NO: 29), VQRQTTTVVAGI (SEQ. ID. NO: 30), DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 6), DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), DAVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 39), DRAQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 40) DRVARQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 41), DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 11), DRVQRQATTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 42) and DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ. ID. NO: 47).

The data show that deletions of amino acids are tolerated since removal of the first two amino acids at the N-terminus results in a peptide that still has activity. Also the data show that additions of amino acids are tolerated since addition of two amino acids to the C-terminal end of the peptide results in a peptide that still has activity. Further, the inventors' alanine substitution screen shows that both non-conservative and conservative alanine substitutions were active in the peptide at positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 relative to the parent 12-mer peptide DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1). Taken together with the deletion data showing that positions 1 and 2 can be deleted and still be active, it is contemplated that analogs of peptide #237 with amino acid substitutions at positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12 will be active.

Thus, provided herein are peptide analogs of peptide #237 (SEQ. ID. NO: 1) having a basic structure of (B#)(VnQnRnQnTnTcTcVcVcAn)(Z#) wherein Vn, Qn, Rn, Qn, Tn, An represent their respective amino acids but can tolerate non-conservative substitutions and Tc, Vc represent their respective amino acids but can tolerate conservative substitutions, wherein B and Z are any of the known 20 amino acids or derivatives thereof, and “#” is a number varying from 0-20 (independently for each of B and Z). Additionally, internal deletions or insertions of up to 6 amino acids are contemplated to result in a peptide that still has activity. These peptide analogs of peptide #237 bind VEGF and/or enhance VEGF binding to cells in an in vitro assay as described herein.

The inventors showed that the following variations of peptide #237 DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1) are able to promote VEGF binding to endothelial cells over control levels, i.e., in the absence of any peptide: DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1), RVQRQTTTVVAG (SEQ. ID. NO: 29), VQRQTTTVVAGI (SEQ. ID. NO: 30), DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 6), DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), DAVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 39), DRAQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 40) DRVARQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 41), DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 11), DRVQRQATTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 42) and DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ. ID. NO: 47) that retains VEGF binding activity and/or the ability to enhance VEGF binding to endothelial cells.

In one embodiment, conservative amino acid substitution is contemplated in a single position of the peptides disclosed herein. For example, only one position of peptide #237 DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1). For example, DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ. ID. NO: 47) has a conservative amino acid change at position 12, from an alanine to a glycine.

In another embodiment, amino acid substitution (conservative and/or non-conservative) is contemplated in six or fewer, five or fewer, four or fewer, three or fewer, two or fewer, or one or fewer positions of the peptide #237 or a peptide having the basic formula (B#)(VnQnRnQnTnTcTcVcVcAn)(Z#) as disclosed herein, keeping in mind the guidance provided herein regarding positions that do and do not tolerate change while retaining activity.

In one embodiment, non-conservative amino acid substitution is contemplated singly at positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 12 of any of peptides disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, provided herein are peptides consisting essentially of the sequence DRVQAQTTTVVA (Ala-5) (SEQ. ID. NO. 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (Ala-6) (SEQ. ID. NO. 4), #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 4), #237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 5) and #237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 6) or a variant thereof comprising a conservative substitution at a position other than position 5 or 6, respectively that retains VEGF binding activity and/or the ability to enhance VEGF binding to endothelial cells. In one embodiment, conservative substitution of, for example, six or fewer, five or fewer, four or fewer, three or fewer, two or fewer, or one or fewer amino acids of these peptides is contemplated, provided that VEGF binding activity and/or the ability to enhance VEGF binding to endothelial cells is substantially retained.

In one embodiment, provided herein are peptides consisting essentially of the sequence DRVQAQTTTVVA (Ala-5) (SEQ. ID. NO. 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (Ala-6) (SEQ. ID. NO. 44), #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 4), #237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 5) and #237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 6) or a conservative substitution variant thereof, wherein the amino acid in position 5 is more hydrophobic than arginine or the amino acid in position 6 is more hydrophobic than glutamine.

In some embodiments, provided herein are isolated peptides consisting essentially of the sequence DRVQAQTTTVVA (Ala-5) (SEQ. TD. NO. 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (Ala-6) (SEQ. ID. NO. 11), #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 4), #237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 5) and #237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 6) or a conservative substitution variant thereof, the peptides having regenerative and/or pro-angiogenie activity as well as VEGF-binding activity as measured by an in vitro ELISA-based VEGF-binding assay. The regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activities as defined here include for example, promoting VEGF binding to other cell types, the other cell types including, for example, endothelial cells; promoting cell proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro; enhancing angiogenesis in the presence of VEGF as assayed via a corneal micro pocket assay; enhancing endothelial cell migration in vivo in the presence of VEGF; promoting neovascularization in vivo in the presence of growth factors as assayed in an ear wound healing assay as described herein, promoting bone growth or repair, promoting neuromal cell growth or neuroprotection, and regenerative activity or the term defined herein.

It is also contemplated that any hydrophobic amino acid substitutions of the arginine at position 5 and/or of glutamine at position 6 will result in a peptide that exhibits enhanced endothelial cell binding to VEGF activity. Of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids, very hydrophobic amino acids are cysteine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine; and less hydrophobic amino acids are alanine, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, threonine and tyrosine. Accordingly, provided herein are isolated peptides consisting essentially of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO. 2), wherein the “X” at position 5 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of cysteine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine, alanine, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, threonine and tyrosine or a variant or derivative of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than arginine.

In one embodiment, provided herein are isolated peptides consisting essentially of DRVQRUTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO. 12), wherein the “U” at position 6 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of cysteine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine, alanine, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, threonine and tyrosine or a variant or derivative of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than glutamine.

The hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of an amino acid side chain generally correlates with its non-polar or polar character, with non-polar amino acids generally recognized as being hydrophobic, and polar amino acids being recognized as hydrophilic. However, the individual non-polar amino acids have varying degrees of hydrophobicity.

A scale of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity based on the free energy of hydrophobic association is described, for example, by Urry, D. W. (2004), “The change in Gibbs free energy for hydrophobic association—Derivation and evaluation by means of inverse temperature transitions,” Chemical Physics Letters 399 (1-3): 177-183, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The hydropathy index of an amino acid is a number representing the hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties of its side-chain. It was proposed in 1982 by Jack Kyte and Russell Doolittle (J. Mol. Biol. 157: 105-32). The larger the number is, the more hydrophobic the amino acid. The most hydrophobic amino acids are isoleucine (4.5) and valine (4.2). The most hydrophilic ones are arginine (−4.5) and lysine (−3.9). Below in a table of the hydropathy index for the twenty naturally occurring amino acids according to Kyte and Doolittle.

3- 1- Side chain Side chain Hydropathy Amino Acid Letter Letter polarity charge (pH 7) index Alanine Ala A nonpolar neutral 1.8 Arginine Arg R polar positive −4.5 Asparagine Asn N polar neutral −3.5 Aspartic acid Asp D polar negative −3.5 Cysteine Cys C nonpolar neutral 2.5 Glutamic acid Glu E polar negative −3.5 Glutamine Gln Q polar neutral −3.5 Glycine Gly G nonpolar neutral −0.4 Histidine His H polar neutral −3.2 Isoleucine Ile I nonpolar neutral 4.5 Leucine Leu L nonpolar neutral 3.8 Lysine Lys K polar positive −3.9 Methionine Met M nonpolar neutral 1.9 Phenylalanine Phe F nonpolar neutral 2.8 Proline Pro P nonpolar neutral −1.6 Serine Ser S polar neutral −0.8 Threonine Thr T polar neutral −0.7 Tryptophan Trp W nonpolar neutral −0.9 Tyrosine Tyr Y polar neutral −1.3 Valine Val V nonpolar neutral 4.2

It is contemplated that the more hydrophobic the amino acid substitution at position 5 or 6, the better the binding to VEGF and the greater the enhancement of endothelial cell binding to VEGF in an in vitro assay.

In some embodiments, these peptides are derived from a prominin-1 polypeptide that has regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activities. In one embodiment, the peptides bind VEGF in an in vitro assay such as the I¹²⁵-VEGF endothelial cell binding assay described herein.

In one embodiment, the isolated peptide described herein has regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity and is derived from the full length human prom-1 (Genbank Accession No.: NM_006017.1; NP_006008.1; AF027208.1) (SEQ. ID. NO. 28). However, under no circumstances does the term “prom-1 peptide” encompass the full length peptide. Rather, “prom-1 peptide” refers to a truncated peptide of prom-1. In other embodiments, an isolated peptide with regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity is from homologous protein members of the prominin protein family (pfam05478:Prominin). Homologous protein members of the prominin protein family include known and identified proteins as well as predicted proteins from genomic studies. All members of the prominin family are predicted to contain five membrane spanning domains, with an N-terminal domain exposed to the extracellular space followed by four, alternating small cytoplasmic and large extracellular loops and a cytoplasmic C-terminal domain. These proteins are homologs of the human prom-1. Examples of prom-1 homologs are: Danio rerio (zebrafish) prominin-like 2 protein, swissprot Q90WI3, Genbank Accession No. GI:82177379; Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) testosterone-regulated prominin-related protein, swissprot Q8R4B6, Genbank Accession No. GI:81866961; Homo sapiens (human) Prominin-like protein 2, swissprot Q8N271, Genbank Accession No. GI:74728673; Mus musculus (house mouse) Prominin-like protein 1, swissprot 054990, Genbank Accession No. GI:13124464; Caenorhabditis elegans hypothetical protein F08B12.1, swissprot Q19188, Genbank Accession No. GI:74963586; and Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) Prominin-like protein, swissprot P82295, Genbank Accession No. GI:13124468.

In some embodiments, the isolated peptides described herein or a conservative substitution variant thereof, enhances the endothelial cell binding to VEGF by at least 50% more than that of the unmodified peptide #237. The enhanced binding is at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 100%, or even more than that of the unmodified peptide #237, e.g., at least 2 fold more, at least 3 fold more, at least 4 fold more, at least 5 fold more, at least 6 fold more, at least 7 fold more, at least 8 fold more, at least 9 fold more, at least 10 fold more, or even beyond 10 fold more than that of the unmodified peptide #237.

Encompassed herein is an isolated peptide that is a VEGF-binding conservative substitution variant of a peptide with regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity as measured by an in vitro ELISA-based VEGF-binding assay as described herein. Conservative amino acid residue substitution is well known in the art. Conservative amino acid substitutions replace an amino acid with another amino acid of similar chemical structure. Examples of such substitution are glycine for alanine, leucine for valine, serine for threonine, and aspartate for glutamate. In one embodiment, only one of the amino acids is substituted with a conservative substitution. In another embodiment, two substitutions can be made. Conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine, alanine; valine, isoleucine, leucine; aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; lysine, arginine; and phenylalanine, tyrosine. Conservative amino acid substitutions do not change the overall structure of the peptide nor the type of amino acid side chains available for forming van der Waals bonds with a binding partner. Conservative amino acid substitution can be achieved during chemical synthesis of the peptide by adding the desired substitute amino acid at the appropriate sequence in the synthesis process. Alternatively, molecular biology methods can be used. The coding sequence of a peptide described herein can be made by annealing two single strand nucleic acids that are complementary to each other. After deciding on a substitute amino acid, the triplet codon for that substitute amino acid is determined and incorporated into the design of two complementary single strand nucleic acid sequences, with the codon of the substitute amino acid replacing the codon of amino acid that is being substituted. For example, for a serine to threonine substitution, the triplet codon AGC for serine is replaced with the triplet codon ACG for threonine. Complementary changes in the design of the anti-sense strand are then made in order to anneal the two strands. Alternatively, site-directed mutagenesis, a known art, can be used for conservative amino acid substitution in the peptides described herein.

In one embodiment, the isolated peptide and VEGF-binding conservative amino acid substitution variant thereof with regenerative or pro-angiogenic activity described herein enhances VEGF binding to endothelial cells. In another embodiment, the peptide with regenerative or pro-angiogenic activity described herein enhances cell proliferation in endothelial cells. In another embodiment, the peptide with regenerative or pro-angiogenic activity described herein enhances angiogenesis in the presence of pro-angiogenic factors. In some aspects, the peptide with regenerative or pro-angiogenic activity described herein enhances cell migration, such as endothelial cells, in the presence of regenerative or pro-angiogenic factors. In another aspect, the peptide with regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity described herein promotes neovascularization in vivo in the presence of growth factors. Such growth factors include, but are not limited to, VEGF, EGF, bFGF, NGF, PDGF, IGF-1, and TGF-β.

In one embodiment, the peptide described herein is a cyclic peptide.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a cyclic peptide having the formula C(Bn)(DRVQXQTTTVVA)(Zn)C (SEQ. ID. NO. 7) or AC(Bn)(DRVQXQTTTVVA)(Zn)C (SEQ. ID. NO. 8) wherein the amino acid X is any amino acid that is more hydrophobic than arginine, wherein B and Z are any of the known 20 amino acids or derivative thereof and “n” is a number varying from 0-20, and wherein (Zn) and (Bn) are used as spacers in the cyclic peptide. In one embodiment, B and Z are glycine residues. For example: CG5(DRVQAQTTTVVA)G5C (SEQ. ID. NO. 9) or ACG3(DRVQMQTTTVVA)G5C (SEQ. ID. NO. 10).

In another embodiment, the cyclic peptide further comprises a conservative amino acid substitution at a position other than position X.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a fusion polypeptide comprising a peptide sequence consisting essentially of the sequence DRVQAQTTTVVA (Ala-5) (SEQ. ID. NO. 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (Ala-6) (SEQ. ID. NO. 11), #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 4), #237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 5) and #237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID NO: 6) or a conservative substitution variant thereof that is contemplated herein. In other embodiments, provided herein are fusion polypeptides that comprise a peptide sequence consisting essentially of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO. 2), wherein the “X” at position 5 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of cysteine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine, alanine, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than arginine. In other embodiments, provided herein are fusion polypeptides that comprise a peptide sequence consisting essentially of DRVQRUTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO. 12), wherein the “U” at position 6 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of cysteine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine, alanine, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than glutamine.

The fusion polypeptide is formed by the fusion of a peptide described herein with another heterologous protein or a portion thereof. The heterologous protein is any protein that is not a member of the prominin family. The fusion gives rise to a chimeric polypeptide. Such fusion peptides can serve to enhance the serum half life of the peptide described herein in vivo. Examples include fusion with albumin, transferrin, transthyretin, and Fc of IgG (See G. M. Subramanian, 2007, Nature Biotechnology 25, 1411-141). Other fusions can facilitate protein expression, solubility during expression, and purification, e.g., thioredoxin, glutathione S-transferase, avidin and six histidine tags (SEQ ID NO: 13). In another embodiment, a peptide or a conservative amino acid substitution variant thereof described herein with regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity can be fused with other pro-angiogenic factors, e.g., VEGF, FGF and IGF to enhance angiogenic potency.

In one embodiment, the peptide described herein is conjugated to a polymer.

In one embodiment, the peptide described herein is PEGylated.

Peptide Modifications

It is to be understood that modified versions of the peptides described herein are encompassed in the present invention. Conservative substitutions are discussed herein above. Non-conservative substitutions are encompassed to the extent that that they substantially retain the activities of those peptides. Modification to a peptide described herein can be performed as described in U.S. published application 20080090760 and 20060286636, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The following provides a non-limiting discussion of various other peptide modifications encompassed within the scope of the invention.

Encompassed by the peptide described herein are chemical derivatives of a peptide whose amino acid residue sequence is described herein, so long as they substantially retain the activities of those peptides. A “chemical derivative” is a subset of peptide derivatives as described herein and refers to a subject polypeptide having one or more residues chemically derivatized by reaction of a functional side group. In addition to side group derivatizations, a chemical derivative can have one or more backbone modifications including alpha-amino substitutions such as N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl and the like, and alpha-carbonyl substitutions such as thioester, thioamide, guanidino and the like. Such derivatized molecules include for example, those molecules in which free amino groups have been derivatized to form amine hydrochlorides, p-toluene sulfonyl groups, carbobenzoxy groups, t-butyloxycarbonyl groups, chloroacetyl groups or formyl groups. Free carboxyl groups may be derivatized to form salts, methyl and ethyl esters or other types of esters or hydrazides. Free hydroxyl groups may be derivatized to form O-acyl or O-alkyl derivatives. The imidazole nitrogen of histidine may be derivatized to form N-im-benzylhistidine. Also included as chemical derivatives are those peptides which contain one or more naturally occurring amino acid derivatives of the twenty standard amino acids. Also included as chemical derivatives are those peptides which contain one or more non-limiting, non-natural amino acids, examples include those available for peptide synthesis from commercial suppliers (e.g., Bachem Catalog, 2004 pp. 1-276). For examples: 4-hydroxyproline may be substituted for proline; 5-hydroxylysine may be substituted for lysine; 3-methylhistidine may be substituted for histidine; homoserine may be substituted for serine; ornithine may be substituted for lysine; β-alanine may be substituted for alanine; norleucine may be substituted for leucine; phenylglycine may be substituted for phenylalanine, and L-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronorharman-3-carboxylic acid or H-β-(3-Benzothienyl)-Ala-OH may be substituted for tryptophan.

In certain embodiments, chemical modifications to the peptide include, but are not limited to the inclusion of, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, amino, alkylamino, aminoalkyl, dialkylamino, aminodialkyl, halogen, heteroatom, carbocycle, carbocyclyl, carbocyclo, carbocyclic, aryl, aralkyl, aralkoxy, aryloxyalkyl, heterocycle, heterocyclyl, heterocyclic, heteroaryl, and/or aliphatic groups.

The terms “alkyl”, “alkoxy”, “hydroxyalkyl”, “alkoxyalkyl”, and “alkoxycarbonyl”, used alone or as part of a larger moiety includes both straight and branched chains containing one to twelve carbon atoms. The terms “alkenyl” and “alkynyl” used alone or as part of a larger moiety shall include both straight and branched chains containing two to twelve carbon atoms. The term “cycloalkyl” used alone or as part of a larger moiety shall include cyclic C₃-C₁₂ hydrocarbons which are completely saturated or which contain one or more units of unsaturation, but which are not aromatic. Lower alkyl refers to an alkyl group containing 1-6 carbons.

The term “amino” refers to an NH₂ group.

The term “alkylamino” or “aminoalkyl” refers to an amino group wherein one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by an alkyl group.

The term “dialkylamino” or “aminodialkyl” refers to an amino group wherein the hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl groups, wherein the alkyl group may be the same or different.

The term “halogen” means F, Cl, Br, or I.

The term “heteroatom” means nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur with a carbon ring structure and includes any oxidized form of nitrogen and sulfur, and the quaternized form of any basic nitrogen. Also the term “nitrogen” includes a substitutable nitrogen of a heterocyclic ring. As an example, in a saturated or partially unsaturated ring having 0-3 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, the nitrogen may be N (as in 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrolyl), NH (as in pyrrolidinyl) or NR+ (as in N-substituted pyrrolidinyl).

The terms “carbocycle”, “carbocyclyl”, “carbocyclo”, or “carbocyclic” as used herein means an aliphatic ring system having three to fourteen members. The terms “carbocycle”, “carbocyclyl”, “carbocyclo”, or “carbocyclic” whether saturated or partially unsaturated, also refers to rings that are optionally substituted. The terms “carbocycle”, “carbocyclyl”, “carbocyclo”, or “carbocyclic” also include aliphatic rings that are fused to one or more aromatic or nonaromatic rings, such as in a decahydronaphthyl or tetrahydronaphthyl, where the radical or point of attachment is on the aliphatic ring.

The term “aryl” used alone or as part of a larger moiety as in “aralkyl”, “aralkoxy”, or “aryloxyalkyl”, refers to aromatic ring groups having six to fourteen members, such as phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-anthracyl and 2-anthracyl. The term “aryl” also refers to rings that are optionally substituted. The term “aryl” may be used interchangeably with the term “aryl ring”. “Aryl” also includes fused polycyclic aromatic ring systems in which an aromatic ring is fused to one or more rings. Examples include 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-anthracyl and 2-anthracyl. Also included within the scope of the term “aryl”, as it is used herein, is a group in which an aromatic ring is fused to one or more non-aromatic rings, such as in an indanyl, phenanthridinyl, or tetrahydronaphthyl, where the radical or point of attachment is on the aromatic ring.

The term “heterocycle”, “heterocyclyl”, or “heterocyclic” as used herein includes non-aromatic ring systems having four to fourteen members, preferably five to ten, in which one or more ring carbons, preferably one to four, are each replaced by a heteroatom. Examples of heterocyclic rings include 3-1H-benzimidazol-2-one, (1-substituted)-2-oxo-benzimidazol-3-yl, 2-tetrahydrofuranyl, 3-tetrahydrofuranyl, 2-tetrahydropyranyl, 3-tetrahydropyranyl, 4-tetra-hydropyranyl, [1,3]-dioxalanyl, [1,3]-dithiolanyl, [1,3]-dioxanyl, 2-tetra-hydro-thiophenyl, 3-tetrahydrothiophenyl, 2-morpholinyl, 3-morpholinyl, 4-morpholinyl, 2-thiomorpholinyl, 3-thiomorpholinyl, 4-thiomorpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-pyrrolidinyl, 3-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 2-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl, 4-piperidinyl, 4-thiazolidinyl, diazolonyl, N-substituted diazolonyl, 1-phthalimidinyl, benzoxanyl, benzopyrrolidinyl, benzopiperidinyl, benzoxolanyl, benzothiolanyl, and benzothianyl. Also included within the scope of the term “heterocyclyl” or “heterocyclic”, as it is used herein, is a group in which a non-aromatic heteroatom-containing ring is fused to one or more aromatic or non-aromatic rings, such as in an indolinyl, chromanyl, phenanthridinyl, or tetrahydroquinolinyl, where the radical or point of attachment is on the non-aromatic heteroatom-containing ring. The term “heterocycle”, “heterocyclyl”, or “heterocyclic” whether saturated or partially unsaturated, also refers to rings that are optionally substituted.

The term “heteroaryl”, used alone or as part of a larger moiety as in “heteroaralkyl” or “heteroarylalkoxy”, refers to heteroaromatic ring groups having five to fourteen members. Examples of heteroaryl rings include 2-furanyl, 3-furanyl, 3-furazanyl, N-imidazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, 5-imidazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-oxadiazolyl, 5-oxadiazolyl, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, 1-pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 1-pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazolyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidyl, 4-pyrimidyl, 5-pyrimidyl, 3-pyridazinyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 5-tetrazolyl, 2-triazolyl, 5-triazolyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, carbazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzooxazolyl, benzimidazolyl, isoquinolinyl, indazolyl, isoindolyl, acridinyl, and benzoisoxazolyl. Also included within the scope of the term “heteroaryl”, as it is used herein, is a group in which a heteroatomic ring is fused to one or more aromatic or nonaromatic rings where the radical or point of attachment is on the heteroaromatic ring. Examples include tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, and pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl. The term “heteroaryl” also refers to rings that are optionally substituted. The term “heteroaryl” may be used interchangeably with the term “heteroaryl ring” or the term “heteroaromatic”.

An aryl (including aralkyl, aralkoxy, aryloxyalkyl and the like) or heteroaryl (including heteroaralkyl and heteroarylalkoxy and the like) group may contain one or more substituents. Examples of suitable substituents on any unsaturated carbon atom of an aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl group include a halogen, —R0, —OR0, —SR0, 1,2-methylene-dioxy, 1,2-ethylenedioxy, protected OH (such as acyloxy), phenyl (Ph), substituted Ph, —O(Ph), substituted —O(Ph), —CH₂(Ph), substituted —CH₂(Ph), CH₂CH₂(Ph), substituted —CH₂CH₂(Ph), —NO₂, —CN, —N(R0)2, —NR0C(O)R0, NR0C(O)N(R0)2, NR0CO2R0, —NR0NR0C(O)R0, —NR0NR0C(O)N(R0)2, —NR0NR0C2R0, C(O)C(O)R0, C(O)CH₂C(O)R0, —CO₂R0, —C(O)R0, —C(O)N(R0)2, —OC(O)N(R0)2, S(O)2R0, —SO₂N(R0)2, —S(O)R0, —NR0SO₂N(R0)2, —NR0SO₂R0, —C(═S)N(R0)2, C(═NH)N(R0)2, (CH₂)yNHC(O)R0, and —(CH₂)yNHC(O)CH(V—R0)(R0); wherein each R0 is independently selected from hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, an unsubstituted heteroaryl or heterocyclic ring, phenyl (Ph), substituted Ph, O(Ph), substituted —O(Ph), —CH₂ (Ph), or substituted —CH₂(Ph); y is 0-6; and V is a linker group. Examples of substituents on the aliphatic group or the phenyl ring of R0 include amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminocarbonyl, halogen, alkyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyloxy, dialkylaminocarbonyloxy, alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, haloalkoxy, and haloalkyl.

An aliphatic group or a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring or a fused aryl or heteroaryl ring may contain one or more substituents. Examples of suitable substituents on any saturated carbon of an aliphatic group or of a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring or a fused aryl or heteroaryl ring include those listed above for the unsaturated carbon of an aryl or heteroaryl group and the following: ═O, ═S, ═NNHR*, ═NN(R*)₂, ═N—, ═NNHC(O)R*, ═NNHCO2(alkyl), ═NNHSO₂ (alkyl), or ═NR*, where each R* is independently selected from hydrogen, an unsubstituted aliphatic group, or a substituted aliphatic group. Examples of substituents on the aliphatic group include amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminocarbonyl, halogen, alkyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyloxy, dialkylaminocarbonyloxy, alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, haloalkoxy, and haloalkyl.

Suitable substituents on the nitrogen of a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring include R+, —N(R+)2, —C(O)R+, —CO2R+, —C(O)C(O)R+, —C(O)CH₂C(O)R+, —SO₂R+, —SO₂N(R+)2, C(═S)N(R+)2, —C(═NH)—N(R+)2, and —NR+SO₂R+; wherein each R+ is independently selected from hydrogen, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, phenyl (Ph), substituted Ph, —O(Ph), substituted —O(Ph), —CH₂(Ph), substituted —CH₂(Ph), or an unsubstituted heteroaryl or heterocyclic ring. Examples of substituents on the aliphatic group or the phenyl ring include amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminocarbonyl, halogen, alkyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyloxy, dialkylaminocarbonyloxy, alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, haloalkoxy, and haloalkyl.

In certain embodiments, the peptide monomers described herein are dimerized or multimerized by covalent attachment to at least one linker moiety. The linker moiety is preferably, although not necessarily, a C₁₋₁₂ linking moiety optionally terminated with one or two —NH— linkages and optionally substituted at one or more available carbon atoms with a lower alkyl substituent. Preferably the linker comprises —NH—R—NH— wherein R is a lower (C₁₋₆) alkylene substituted with a functional group, such as a carboxyl group or an amino group, that enables binding to another molecular moiety (e.g., as may be present on the surface of a solid support during peptide synthesis or to a pharmacokinetic-modifying agent such as PEG). In certain embodiments the linker is a lysine residue. In certain other embodiments, the linker bridges the C-termini of two peptide monomers, by simultaneous attachment to the C-terminal amino acid of each monomer. In other embodiments, the linker bridges the peptides by attaching to the side chains of amino acids not at the C-termini. When the linker attaches to a side chain of an amino acid not at the C-termini of the peptides, the side chain preferably contains an amine, such as those found in lysine, and the linker contains two or more carboxy groups capable of forming an amide bond with the peptides.

The peptide monomers of the invention may be oligomerized using the biotin/streptavidin system. Oligomerization can enhance one or more activities of peptides as described herein. Biotinylated analogs of peptide monomers may be synthesized by standard techniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, the peptide monomers may be C-terminally biotinylated. These biotinylated monomers are then oligomerized by incubation with streptavidin (e.g., at a 4:1 molar ratio at room temperature in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or HEPES-buffered RPMI medium (INVITROGEN™) for 1 hour). In a variation of this process, biotinylated peptide monomers may be oligomerized by incubation with any one of a number of commercially available anti-biotin antibodies [e.g., goat anti-biotin IgG from Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories, Inc. (Washington, D.C.)].

In some aspects, the peptides described herein can be linked physically in tandem to form a polymer of peptides. The peptides making up such a polymer can be spaced apart from each other by a peptide linker. A “peptide linker” is a short (e.g., about 1-40, e.g., 1-20 amino acids) sequence of amino acids that is not part of the peptide or variant sequence described herein. A linker peptide is attached on its amino-terminal end to one polypeptide or polypeptide domain and on its carboxyl-terminal end to another polypeptide or polypeptide domain. Examples of useful linker peptides include, but are not limited to, glycine polymers ((G)n) including glycine-serine and glycine-alanine polymers (e.g., a (Gly₄Ser)n repeat where n=1-8 (SEQ ID NO: 14), preferably, n=3, 4, 5, or 6). The peptides described herein can also be joined by chemical bond linkages, such as linkages by disulfide bonds or by chemical bridges. Molecular biology techniques that are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to create a polymer of peptides. In one embodiment, combination of a peptide and variant peptide is found in the polymer. Peptide sequences of the present invention can also be linked together using non-peptide cross-linkers (Pierce 2003-2004 Applications Handbook and Catalog, Chapter 6) or other scaffolds such as HPMA, polydextran, polysaccharides, ethylene-glycol, poly-ethylene-glycol, glycerol, sugars, and sugar alcohols (e.g., sorbitol, mannitol).

In an optional embodiment, polyethylene glycol (PEG) may serve as a linker that dimerizes two peptide monomers: for example, a single PEG moiety containing two reactive functional groups may be simultaneously attached to the N-termini of both peptide chains of a peptide dimer. These peptides are referred to herein as “PEGylated peptides.”

In yet another embodiment, a linker moiety may comprise a molecule containing two carboxylic acids and optionally substituted at one or more available atoms with an additional functional group such as an amine capable of being bound to one or more PEG molecules. Such a molecule can be depicted as: —CO—(CH₂)n-uX—(CH₂)m-CO— where n is an integer between zero and 10, m is an integer between one and 10, X is selected from O, S, N(CH₂)pNR1, NCO(CH₂)pNR1, and CHNR1, R1 is selected from H, Boc (tert-butyloxycarbonyl), Cbz, and p is an integer between 1 and 10. In certain embodiments, one amino group of each of the peptides form an amide bond with the linker. In certain other embodiments, the amino group of the peptide bound to the linker is the epsilon amine of a lysine residue or the alpha amine of the N-terminal residue, or an amino group of an optional spacer molecule. In one embodiment, a linker is used to cyclize peptides. In another embodiment, a spacer can be used in addition to a linker molecule for separating moieties as desired. In particularly preferred embodiments, both n and m are one, X is NCO(CH₂)pNR1, p is two, and R1 is Boc. Optionally, the Boc group can be removed to liberate a reactive amine group capable of forming a covalent bond with a suitably activated PEG species such as mPEG-SPA-NHS or mPEG-NPC (Nektar Therapeutics, San Carlos Calif.). Optionally, the linker contains more than one reactive amine capable of being derivatized with a suitably activated PEG species. Optionally, the linker contains one or more reactive amines capable of being derivatized with a suitably activated pharmacokinetic (PK) modifying agent such as a fatty acid, a homing peptide, a transport agent, a cell-penetrating agent, an organ-targeting agent, or a chelating agent.

A peptide monomer, dimer, multimer or oligomer as described herein may further comprise one or more linker and/or spacer moieties. In one embodiment, the linker moiety is a C₁₋₁₂ linking moiety optionally terminated with —NH— linkages or carboxyl (—COOH) groups, and optionally substituted at one or more available carbon atoms with a lower alkyl substituent. In one embodiment, the linker is R—COOH wherein R is a lower (C1-6) alkyl optionally substituted with a functional group such as a carboxyl group or an amino group that enables binding to another molecular moiety. For example, the linker may be a glycine (G) residue, or an amino hexanoic acid (Ahx) such as 6-amino hexanoic acid. In other embodiments, the linker is —NH—R—NH— wherein R is a lower (C1-6) alkyl substituted with a functional group such as a carboxyl group or an amino group that enables binding to another molecular moiety. For example, the linker may be a lysine (K) residue or a lysine amide (K—NH₂, a lysine residue wherein the carboxyl group has been converted to an amide moiety —CONH₂).

In some embodiments, the linker moiety has the following structure: —NH—(CH₂)_(α)—[O—(CH₂)_(β)]_(γ)—O_(δ)—(CH₂)_(ε)—Y— where α, β, γ, δ, and ε are each integers whose values are independently selected. In some embodiments, α, β, and ε are each integers whose values are independently selected between one and about six, δ is zero or one, γ is an integer selected between zero and about ten, except that when γ is greater than one, β is two, and Y is selected from NH or CO. In some embodiments, α, β, and ε are each equal to two, both γ and δ are equal to 1, and Y is NH. In another embodiment, γ and δ are zero, α and ε together equal five, and Y is CO.

The peptide monomers, dimers, or multimers of the invention may further comprise one or more water soluble polymer moieties. Preferably, these polymers are covalently attached to the peptide compounds of the invention. Preferably, for therapeutic use of the end product preparation, the polymer is pharmaceutically acceptable. One skilled in the art will be able to select the desired polymer based on such considerations as whether the polymer-peptide conjugate will be used therapeutically, and if so, the desired dosage, circulation time, resistance to proteolysis, and other considerations. The water soluble polymer may be, for example, polyethylene glycol (PEG), copolymers of ethylene glycol/propylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly-1,3-dioxolane, poly-1,3,6-trioxane, ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, polyaminoacids (either homopolymers or random copolymers), poly(n-vinyl-pyrrolidone)polyethylene glycol, propropylene glycol homopolymers, polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide copolymers, and polyoxyethylated polyols. A preferred water soluble polymer is PEG.

The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched. A preferred PEG for use in the present invention is linear, unbranched PEG having a molecular weight of from about 5 kilodaltons (kDa) to about 60 kDa (the term “about” indicating that in preparations of PEG, some molecules will weigh more, and some less, than the stated molecular weight). More preferably, the PEG has a molecular weight of from about 10 kDa to about 40 kDa, and even more preferably, the PEG has a molecular weight from 20 to 30 kDa. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile (e.g., duration of sustained release desired; effects, if any, on biological activity; ease in handling; degree or lack of antigenicity; and other effects of PEG on a therapeutic peptide known to one skilled in the art).

The number of polymer molecules attached may vary; for example, one, two, three, or more water-soluble polymers may be attached to a peptide of the invention. The multiple attached polymers may be the same or different chemical moieties (e.g., PEGs of different molecular weight).

In certain embodiments, PEG may be attached to at least one terminus (N-terminus or C-terminus) of a peptide monomer or dimer. In other embodiments, PEG may be attached to a linker moiety of a peptide monomer or dimer. In a preferred embodiment, PEG is attached to the linker moiety of a peptide dimer. Optionally, the linker contains more than one reactive amine capable of being derivatized with a suitably activated PEG species.

Methods for stabilizing peptides known in the art may be used with the methods and compositions described herein. For example, using D-amino acids, using reduced amide bonds for the peptide backbone, and using non-peptide bonds to link the side chains, including, but not limited to, pyrrolinone and sugar mimetics can each provide stabilization. The design and synthesis of sugar scaffold peptide mimetics are described by Hirschmann et al. (J. Med. Chem., 1996, 36, 2441-2448, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Further, pyrrolinone-based peptide mimetics present the peptide pharmacophore on a stable background that has improved bioavailability characteristics (see, for example, Smith et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 11037-11038), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Encompassed herein are conjugates of a peptide described herein or of a conservative amino acid substitution variant or derivative thereof. These peptides can be conjugated to other polymers in addition to polyethylene glycol (PEG). The polymer may or may not have its own biological activity. Further examples of polymer conjugation include but are not limited to polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamino acids, divinylether maleic anhydride, N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide, dextran, dextran derivatives including dextran sulfate, polypropylene glycol, polyoxyethylated polyol, heparin, heparin fragments, polysaccharides, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, including methylcellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose, starch and starch derivatives, polyalkylene glycol and derivatives thereof, copolymers of polyalkylene glycols and derivatives thereof, polyvinyl ethyl ethers, and α,β-Poly[(2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide, and the like, or mixtures thereof. Conjugation to a polymer can improve serum half-life, among other effects. A variety of chelating agents can be use to conjugate the peptides described herein. These chelating agents include but are not limited to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethyleneglycol-0,0′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), N,N′-bis(hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid (HBED), triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacyclododecane-N,N′,N′″-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclotridecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (TITRA), 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (TETA), and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (TETRA). Methods of conjugation are well known in the art, for example, P. E. Thorpe, et al, 1978, Nature 271, 752-755; Harokopakis E., et al., 1995, Journal of Immunological Methods, 185:31-42; S. F. Atkinson, et al., 2001, J. Biol. Chem., 276:27930-27935; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,601,825, 5,180,816, 6,423,685, 6,706,252, 6,884,780, and 7,022,673, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In one embodiment, the peptides, fusion proteins or conjugates of peptides include modifications within the sequence, such as, modification by terminal-NH₂ acylation, e.g., acetylation, or thioglycolic acid amidation, by terminal-carboxylamidation, e.g., with ammonia, methylamine, and the like terminal modifications.

One can also modify the amino and/or carboxy termini of the peptides described herein. Terminal modifications are useful, to reduce susceptibility by proteinase digestion, and therefore can serve to prolong half life of the polypeptides in solution, particularly in biological fluids where proteases may be present. Amino terminus modifications include methylation (e.g., —NHCH₃ or —N(CH₃)₂), acetylation (e.g., with acetic acid or a halogenated derivative thereof such as α-chloroacetic acid, α-bromoacetic acid, or α-iodoacetic acid), adding a benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) group, or blocking the amino terminus with any blocking group containing a carboxylate functionality defined by RCOO— or sulfonyl functionality defined by R—SO₂—, where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl aryl, and the like, and similar groups. One can also incorporate a desamino acid at the N-terminus (so that there is no N-terminal amino group) to decrease susceptibility to proteases or to restrict the conformation of the peptide compound. In certain embodiments, the N-terminus is acetylated with acetic acid or acetic anhydride.

Carboxy terminus modifications include replacing the free acid with a carboxamide group or forming a cyclic lactam at the carboxy terminus to introduce structural constraints. One can also cyclize the peptides described herein, or incorporate a desamino or descarboxy residue at the termini of the peptide, so that there is no terminal amino or carboxyl group, to decrease susceptibility to proteases or to restrict the conformation of the peptide. Methods of circular peptide synthesis are known in the art, for example, in U.S. Patent Application No. 20090035814; Muralidharan and Muir, 2006, Nat Methods, 3:429-38; and Lockless and Muir, 2009, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. June 18, Epub. C-terminal functional groups of the peptides described herein include amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy, and the lower ester derivatives thereof, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

One can replace the naturally occurring side chains of the genetically encoded amino acids (or the stereoisomeric D amino acids) with other side chains, for instance with groups such as alkyl, lower (C₁₋₆) alkyl, cyclic 4-, 5-, 6-, to 7-membered alkyl, amide, amide lower alkyl amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof, and with 4-, 5-, 6-, to 7-membered heterocycles. In particular, proline analogues in which the ring size of the proline residue is changed from 5 members to 4, 6, or 7 members can be employed. Cyclic groups can be saturated or unsaturated, and if unsaturated, can be aromatic or non-aromatic. Heterocyclic groups preferably contain one or more nitrogen, oxygen, and/or sulfur heteroatoms. Examples of such groups include the furazanyl, furyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, morpholinyl (e.g., morpholino), oxazolyl, piperazinyl (e.g., 1-piperazinyl), piperidyl (e.g., 1-piperidyl, piperidino), pyranyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl (e.g., 1-pyrrolidinyl), pyrrolinyl, pyrrolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, thiomorpholinyl (e.g., thiomorpholino), and triazolyl groups. These heterocyclic groups can be substituted or unsubstituted. Where a group is substituted, the substituent can be alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, oxygen, or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl.

One can also readily modify peptides by phosphorylation, and other methods [e.g., as described in Hruby, et al. (1990) Biochem J. 268:249-262].

The peptide compounds described herein also serve as structural models for non-peptidic compounds with similar biological activity. Those of skill in the art recognize that a variety of techniques are available for constructing compounds with the same or similar desired biological activity as the peptides described herein, but with more favorable activity than the peptide with respect to solubility, stability, and susceptibility to hydrolysis and proteolysis [See, Morgan and Gainor (1989) Ann. Rep. Med. Chem. 24:243-252]. These techniques include, but are not limited to, replacing the peptide backbone with a backbone composed of phosphonates, amidates, carbamates, sulfonamides, secondary amines, and N-methylamino acids. Such a peptidomimetic may have different amino acids from the peptide that it mimics but substantially retains the VEGF-binding, regenerative, pro-angiogenic, pro-cell proliferation, pro-cell migration, anti-angiogenic, anti-cell proliferation, pro-cell migration, pro-wound healing, or neuroprotective activity of the peptide that it mimics.

Peptides in the Treatment of Disease

In one embodiment, provided herein is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide comprising or consisting essentially of the molecule having the amino acid sequence of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than arginine (R). In another embodiment, the amino acid at position 6 is changed to one that is more hydrophobic than glutamine (Q). In yet another embodiment, both the amino acids at the position 5 and 6 are changed to residues that are more hydrophobic than R and Q respectively.

In one embodiment, provided herein is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide of SEQ ID NOS: 3, 11 and 4-6 or a variant or derivative thereof as those terms are used herein. In another embodiment, provided herein is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 12 or a variant or derivative thereof as those terms are used herein. In yet another embodiment provided herein is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a fusion protein comprising a peptide described herein or a conjugate of a peptide described herein. Also encompassed are compositions comprising a vector carrying the coding nucleic acid for a fusion protein comprising a peptide described herein or a polymer of peptides described herein.

In one embodiment, described herein is a method of promoting cell proliferation in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a peptide comprising or consisting essentially of the molecule having the amino acid sequence of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than arginine (R). In another embodiment, the amino acid at position 6 is changed to one that is more hydrophobic than glutamine (Q). In yet another embodiment, both the amino acids at the position 5 and 6 are changed to residues that are more hydrophobic than R and Q respectively.

In one embodiment, described herein is a method of promoting cell proliferation in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a peptide fragment of SEQ ID NOS: 3, 11 and 4-6 or a variant or derivative thereof as those terms are used herein. In another embodiment, described herein is a method of promoting cell proliferation in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a peptide fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 12 or a variant or derivative thereof as those terms are used herein.

In one embodiment, described herein is a method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a peptide comprising or consisting essentially of the molecule having the amino acid sequence of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than arginine (R). In another embodiment, the amino acid at position 6 is changed to one that is more hydrophobic than glutamine (Q). In yet another embodiment, both the amino acids at the position 5 and 6 are changed to residues that are more hydrophobic than R and Q respectively.

In one embodiment, described herein is a method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a peptide of SEQ ID NOS: 3, 11 and 4-6 or a variant or derivative thereof as those terms are used herein. In another embodiment, described herein is a method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting the tissue with a composition comprising a peptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 12 or a variant or derivative thereof as those terms are used herein.

In one embodiment, the method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof includes but is not limited to tissues that require re-vascularization after disease and trauma. Re-vascularization is needed for the rehabilitation of important organs, such as the heart, liver, bone, and lungs, after damage caused by disease and physical trauma (e.g., myocardial infarction, occlusive peripheral vascular disease). Diseases that halt, block or reduce blood circulation include, but are not limited to, stroke, heart attack, myocardial ischemia, ischemic limbs, diabetes, vascular diseases such as peripheral vascular disease (PVD), carotid artery disease, atherosclerosis, and renal artery disease. Trauma such as those from car accidents and shock can result in reduced blood circulation to areas needing increased circulation during the healing process. In addition, treatment of a subject with a peptide described herein is applicable to improving wound healing, burn healing, collateral coronary, peripheral artery, and carotid circulation in patients suffering from impaired wound healing, burns, bone fracture, neuropathy, impotence, erectile dysfunction, myocardial infarction, diabetic neuropathy, spinal cord injury, nerve injury, and other vascular occlusive disorders such as sickle cell disease, and stroke. As some of the peptides described herein can potentiate the effect of VEGF on the vasculature, the peptides are also contemplated herein for use as vasodilators for the regulation of high blood pressure in a subject.

In one embodiment, the method of promoting angiogenesis is applied to erectile dysfunction, which can be caused by vascular disorders. The use of peptides as described herein can treat impotence by encouraging repair of the penile vascular network.

In one embodiment, the method of promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis is applied in the context of wound healing, burns, tissue repair, fertility, erectile dysfunction, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, tissue grafts, and/or tissue engineered constructs. A variety of tissues, or organs comprising organized tissues, requiring angiogenesis include but are not limited to the skin, muscle, gut, connective tissue, joints, bones and the like types of tissue in which blood vessels are required to nourish the tissue.

In one embodiment, the methods of promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis, further comprise contacting a tissue with additional pro-angiogenic factors and/or growth promoting factors, e.g., VEGF, FGF, PDGF, and IGF.

In one aspect, promoting angiogenesis can protect severely hypertrophied hearts from ischemic injury. Myocardial hypertrophy is associated with progressive contractile dysfunction, increased vulnerability to ischemia-reperfusion injury, and is, therefore, a risk factor in cardiac surgery. During the progression of hypertrophy, a mismatch develops between the number of capillaries and cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) per unit area, indicating an increase in diffusion distance and the potential for limited supply of oxygen and nutrients. Treatment of hypertrophied hearts with VEGF resulted in an increase of microvascular density, improved tissue perfusion, and glucose delivery. (I. Friehs, et al., 2004, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 77: 2004-2010). While not wishing to be bound by theory, the methods described herein for promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis can address this mismatch by potentiating the effect of VEGF in increasing the capillaries to improve the supply of nutrients to the cardiomyocytes.

In another aspect, promoting angiogenesis can stimulate bone repair and bone turnover. Several growth factors are known to be expressed in a temporal and spatial pattern during fracture repair. Exogenously added VEGF enhances blood vessel formation, ossification, and new bone maturation (Street, J. et al., 2002, PNAS, 99:9656-61). Accordingly, the method described herein for promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis with a peptide, variant or derivative thereof can be a therapy for bone repair. Bone repair assays are provided herein (see section entitled “Bone Repair Assays”) to test the bone repair activity of pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides described herein.

In some aspects, the methods described herein for promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis are applicable to the treatment of wounds, and particularly for the treatment of persistent wounds, such as diabetic ulcers. Wounds, in particular persistent wounds, which are difficult to heal, require a blood supply that can nourish the wound, mediate the healing process and minimize scar formation. Commonly used therapies for treating persistent wounds do not assist the wound to provide its own blood supply and therefore the healing process remains slow. Persistent wounds can be ischemic wounds, for example, where the injury results from lack of oxygen due to poor circulation such as in diabetes, scleroderma, and the like. Scleroderma is a disease involving an imbalance in tissue reformation giving rise to the overproduction of collagen, and ultimately resulting in swelling and hardening of the skin (and affected organs). Diabetic wounds are especially difficult to treat because the inadequate blood supply is often complicated by other medical conditions such as peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy.

Agents including peptides as described herein can be used to promote wound healing. A peptide, variant or derivative used for wound healing will promote more rapid wound closure and/or greater angiogenesis at a given time relative to a similar wound not treated with such agent. Wound healing assays are provided herein (see section entitled “Wound Healing Assays”) to test the wound healing activity of pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides described herein.

In one embodiment, the compositions described herein are administered topically to promote wound healing. In one embodiment, the peptides described herein are incorporated into a hydrogel or dressing or the like for use in the treatment of wounds. Alternatively, the peptide compositions described herein can be administered systemically. In other embodiments, the prom-1 peptide compositions can be administered directly to the organ or tissue in need in the context of a scaffold or gel material, e.g., directly to a bone fracture site.

In another embodiment, the compositions described herein are administered to the central nervous system to stimulate neuronal growth (e.g., neurite formation, axonal growth, axonal branching, and nerve tropism).

In some aspects, the methods described herein for promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis can promote angiogenesis in 3-D scaffold constructs of biodegradable polymeric scaffolds coated with the peptides or engineered to contain cells expressing nucleic acids encoding the peptide fragments. This equally applies to other scaffold materials (such as hydroxylapatite and metals). The emergence of the tissue engineering (TE) field has resulted in the development of various interdisciplinary strategies primarily aimed at meeting the need to replace organs and tissues lost due to diseases or trauma. In essence, the main TE approach is centered on seeding biodegradable scaffolds (both organic and inorganic such as poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and apatites) with donor cells, and optionally appropriate growth factor(s), followed by culturing and implantation of the scaffolds to induce and direct the growth of new, functional tissue. The scaffold material eventually disappears through biodegradation and is replaced by the specific tissue. This scaffold-guided TE approach is aimed at creating tissues such as skin, cartilage, bone, liver, heart, breast, etc.

Despite success with small (thin) tissue-engineered constructs, perhaps the biggest roadblock in scaffold-guided TE is engineering large tissue volumes. This challenge arises due to the lack of rapid vascularization (angiogenesis) of large three-dimensional (3-D) scaffold constructs. Accordingly, angiogenesis is a pre-requisite for scaffold-guided TE of large tissue volumes. Described herein is a method of promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis in a tissue-engineered construct, the method comprising contacting the tissue construct with a composition comprising a peptide, variant or derivative as described herein.

A number of biomolecules which induce or promote angiogenesis in tissues have been identified. The most prominent of these are: growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and transforming growth factors (TGFs); and nitric oxide (NO). Therefore, in one embodiment, the method of promoting cell proliferation and/or promoting angiogenesis in a tissue-engineered construct further comprises administration of additional growth factors such as VEGF, FGF, EGF, PDGFs, TGFs, NO, and combinations thereof.

The patient treated according to the various embodiments described herein is desirably a human patient, although it is to be understood that the principles of the invention indicate that the invention is effective with respect to all mammals, which are intended to be included in the term “patient”. In this context, a mammal is understood to include any mammalian species in which treatment of diseases associated with angiogenesis is desirable, particularly agricultural and domestic mammalian species.

In methods of treatment as described herein, the administration of peptides, variants or derivatives, can be for either “prophylactic” or “therapeutic” purpose. When provided prophylactically, the peptides, variants, fusion protein, polymer of peptides, conjugates, mimetics and/or coding nucleic acids are provided in advance of any symptom. The prophylactic administration of the prom-1 peptides and/or coding nucleic acids serves to prevent or inhibit a disease or disorder associated with insufficient angiogenesis or for example, with neurodegneration.

When provided therapeutically, a peptide, variant or derivative as described herein and/or coding nucleic acid thereof is provided at (or after) the onset of a symptom or indication.

Angiogenesis Assays

Various methods of assaying for angiogenesis are described herein and referenced below. The complete content of these references is hereby incorporated by reference. In general, to measure the pro-angiogenic activity of an agent, e.g., a peptide as described herein, one will perform a given assay in the presence and absence of the peptide composition. Further, where the peptides described herein interact with VEGF, it is preferred that the assays include VEGF (or another pro-angiogenic factor) in the baseline or control assay as well as in the peptide, variant or derivative-containing assay.

Examples of well described angiogenesis assays that can be used to test or confirm regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity of the peptides, variants, fusion proteins, peptidomimetics, peptide conjugates, or polymers of peptides or other derivatives described herein include, but are not limited to in vitro endothelial cell assays, rat aortic ring angiogenesis assays, cornea micro pocket assays (corneal neovascularization assays), and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assays (Erwin, A. et al. (2001) Seminars in Oncology 28(6):570-576).

Some examples of in vitro endothelial cell assays include methods for monitoring endothelial cell proliferation, cell migration, or tube formation. It is anticipated that the peptides as described herein will affect each of these endothelial cell processes. Cell proliferation assays can use cell counting, BRdU incorporation, thymidine incorporation, or staining techniques (Montesano, R. (1992) Eur J Clin Invest 22:504-515; Montesano, R. (1986) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci USA 83:7297-7301; Holmgren L. et al. (1995) Nature Med 1:149-153).

As one example of a cell proliferation assay, human umbilical vein endothelial cells are cultured in Medium 199 (Gibco BRL) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Gibco BRL), 50 U/ml penicillin, 50 ng/ml streptomycin, 2 mM L-glutamine and 1 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in T75 tissue culture flasks (Nunclon) in 5% CO₂ at 37° C. Cells are trypsinised (0.025% trypsin, 0.265 mM EDTA, GibcoBRL) and seeded in 96-well plates (Nunclon) at a density of 3000 cells/well/200 μl and cultured for 3 days. Cells are starved in 1% serum for 24 hours and are then treated with 1% serum containing 1 ng/ml bFGF in the presence or absence of a pro-angiogenic agent for a further 48 hours. Two hours before the termination of incubation, 20 μl of CELLTITER 96® Aqueous One Solution Reagent (Promega Inc.) is added into each well. After the completion of incubation at 37° C. in a humidified, 5% CO₂ atmosphere, the optical densities of the wells at 490 nm (“OD490”) are recorded using a plate reader (Bio-Tek). The quantity of formazan product as measured by the amount of 490 nm absorbance is directly proportional to the number of living cells in culture.

Alternatively, the incubation period of cells with the pro-angiogenic factor can be allowed to proceed for up to 7 days. The cells are counted on a coulter counter on e.g., days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Remaining cells are fed by media replacement on these days. Data is plotted and doubling time calculated using a regression analysis (cells in log phase of growth). The doubling time for the cell is monitored as an indicator of cell proliferative activity.

In cell migration assays, endothelial cells are plated on MATRIGEL and migration monitored upon addition of a chemoattractant (Homgren, L. et al. (1995) Nature Med 1:149-153; Albini, A. et al. (1987) Cancer Res. 47:3239-3245; Hu, G. et al. (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 6:12096-12100; Alessandri, G. et al. (1983) Cancer Res. 43:1790-1797.)

Another migration assay monitors the migration of bovine aortic endothelial cells. In the assay, bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells are allowed to grow to confluence in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM, GIBCOBRL) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (GIBCOBRL) in 12-well plates (NUNCLON). The monolayers are then ‘wounded’ by scraping a disposable pipette tip across the dishes. After washing with Dulbecco's PBS plus calcium (0.1 g/L) (GIBCO™, INVITROGEN™ Corporation), the wounded monolayers are cultured for a further 48 hours in fresh 1% serum in the presence or absence of a pro-angiogenic agent.

The degree of movement of cells in the wounded mono layers is determined by taking photomicrographs at the time of the initial wounding and 48 hours after wounding. The photomicrographs are taken at 20× magnification, e.g., on an Olympus CK2 inverted microscope and printed to a standard size of 15 cm wide by 10 cm deep. A grid with lines 1.5 cm apart and 10 cm long running parallel to a baseline is placed over the photograph. The baseline is placed on the “wounding line” above which the cells have originally been scraped off. The number of cells intercepted by each of the lines is recorded. This allows an assessment of the number of cells that have migrated 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5 or 9.0 cm away from the baseline on the photomicrograph.

Endothelial tube formation assays monitor vessel formation (Kohn, E C. et al. (1995) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:1307-1311; Schnaper, H W. et al. (1995) J Cell Physiol 165:107-118).

Rat aortic ring assays have been used successfully for the evaluation of angiogenesis drugs (Zhu, W H. et al., (2000) Lab Invest 80:545-555; Kruger, E A. et al., (2000) Invasion Metastas 18:209-218; Kruger, E A. et al., (2000) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 268:183-191; Bauer, K S. et al., (1998) Biochem Pharmacol 55:1827-1834; Bauer, K S. et al., (2000) J Pharmacol Exp Ther 292:31-37; Berger, A C. et al., (2000) Microvasc Res 60:70-80). Briefly, the assay is an ex vivo model of explant rat aortic ring cultures in a three dimensional matrix. One can visually observe either the presence or absence of microvessel outgrowths. The human saphenous angiogenesis assay, another ex vivo assay, can also be used (Kruger, E A. et al. (2000) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 268:183-191).

Another common angiogenesis assay is the corneal micropocket assay (Gimbrone, M A. et al., (1974) J Natl Canc Inst. 52:413-427; Kenyon, B M. et al., (1996) Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 37:1625-1632; Kenyon, B M. et al., (1997) Exp Eye Res 64:971-978; Proia, A D. et al., (1993) Exp Eye Res 57:693-698). Briefly, neovascularization into an avascular space is monitored in vivo. This assay is commonly performed in rabbit, rat, or mouse.

The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay has been used often to study tumor angiogenesis, angiogenic factors, and antiangiogenic compounds (Knighton, D. et al. (1977) Br J Cancer 35:347-356; Auerbach, R. et al. (1974) Dev Biol 41:391-394; Ausprunk, D H. et al. (1974) Dev Biol 38:237-248; Nguyen, M. et al. (1994) Microvasc Res 47:31-40). This assay uses fertilized eggs and monitors the formation of primitive blood vessels that form in the allantois, an extra-embryonic membrane. This assay functions as an in vivo endothelial cell proliferation assay.

Other in vivo angiogenesis assays are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,514 and the directed in vivo angiogenesis assay (DIVAA™) system made by Trevigen, Inc. In these assays, a pro-angiogenic factor is incorporated into a tissue compatible matrix or hydrogel material such as Matrigel (GibcoBDL) or in the angioreactor Cultrex® DIVAA™, the matrix material or angioreactor is implanted subdermally into nude mice. Over time, usually days, microvessels invade the matrix material or angioreactor. The matrix material or angioreactor are then excised from the host mouse and examined.

Wound Healing Assays

The peptides, variants or derivatives described herein can be used to facilitate, enhance or accelerate wound healing. Wound healing, or wound repair, is an intricate process in which the skin (or some other organ) repairs itself after injury. The classic model of wound healing is divided into four sequential, yet overlapping, phases: (1) hemostasis, (2) inflammatory, (3) proliferative and (4) remodeling. Angiogenesis occurs during the proliferative phase of wound healing and promotes wound contraction (i.e., a decrease in the size of the wound). Microvascular in-growth into damaged tissue is an essential component of the normal healing process. In fact, wound therapy is often aimed at promoting neovascularization.

Thus, a wound healing assay can be used as an angiogenesis assay to assess the effect of a given peptide, variant, or derivative described herein. Such wound healing assays include, but are not limited to, ear punch assays and full thickness dorsal skin assays. Wound healing assays can be performed as described in U.S. Published Application No. 20060147415, entitled “Composition and method for treating occlusive vascular diseases, nerve regeneration and wound healing,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The term “full thickness” is used herein to describe a wound that includes the epidermal layer and at least a portion of the dermal layer. The term “full thickness” also encompasses a deep wound to the level of the panniculus carnosus that removes epidermal, dermal, subcutaneous, and fascia layers.

Full thickness dorsal skin wounding assays can be performed as described in e.g., Luckett-Chastain, L R and Galluci, R M, Br J Dermatol. (2009) Apr. 29; Shaterian, A et al., Burns (2009) May 5; Lee, W R, et al., Wound Repair Regen (2009) Jun. 12; and Safer, J D, et al., Endocrinology (2005) 146(10):4425-30, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Dorsal skin wounding assays can be performed using rat or mouse models.

Whereas, the ear punch wound assay is used to generate the wound healing data described herein, it is expected that any of the other wound healing assays described herein will provide similar or superior results with peptides, variants or derivatives as described. In one embodiment, a full-thickness wound is effected by removing a section of skin (e.g., 1.5 mm diameter) from the dorsal surface (e.g., back) of an anesthetized animal by e.g., surgical incision. If so desired, the section of skin to be wounded can be pre-treated with a candidate pro-angiogenic factor prior to wound induction by e.g., subcutaneous injection. Alternatively, the wound can be treated using a candidate pro-angiogenic factor coincident with or immediately following wounding using methods known to one of skill in the art. The size, area, rate of healing, contraction and histology of the wound are assessed at different time points by methods known to those of skill in the art. The wound size of an animal is assessed by measuring the unclosed wound area compared to the original wound area. Wound healing can be expressed as either percent wound closure or percent wound closure rate. Wounds can be harvested at different time points by euthanizing the animal and removing a section of skin surrounding the wound site for histological analysis if so desired.

The capacity of a candidate pro-angiogenic factor to induce or accelerate a healing process of a skin wound can be determined by administering the candidate pro-angiogenic factor to skin cells colonizing the damaged skin or skin wound area and evaluating the treated damaged skin or wounds for e.g., angiogenesis and/or epidermal closure and/or wound contraction. As known to those of skill in the art, different administration methods (e.g., injection or topical administration) can be used to treat the skin wound, and different concentrations of the candidate pro-angiogenic factor can be tested. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of vessel formation and/or epidermal closure and/or wound contraction, over an untreated control, indicates that a tested candidate pro-angiogenic factor is capable of inducing or accelerating a healing process of a damaged skin or skin wound. Positive results are indicated by a reduction in the percent wound area of a mouse treated with a candidate pro-angiogenic factor of at least 5% compared to the wound area of an untreated or vehicle treated mouse at the same timepoint; preferably the reduction in percent wound area is at least 7%, at least 8%, at least 9%, at least 10%, at least 12%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 99%, or even 100% (i.e., wound is completely closed).

An ear punch model can also be used to assess rates of angiogenesis or wound healing, in a design similar to that for the full thickness dorsal back skin assay. The model consists of wounding the ear of an animal using a circular punch of a standard size (e.g., 2.25 mm). The wound is treated daily with either a matrigel vehicle or a matrigel containing a candidate pro-angiogenic factor. This assay is further described herein in the Examples section.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

VEGF has neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. Given the effects of prom-1 peptides as described herein on VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, and parallels between VEGF's pro-angiogenic and neurotrophic activities, it is anticipated that prom-1 peptides as described herein can potentiate or enhance the neurotrophic or neuroprotective effects of VEGF. The prom-1 peptides can be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases as described in e.g., U.S. Published Application No. 20060147415, entitled “Composition and method for treating occlusive vascular diseases, nerve regeneration and wound healing,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Furthermore, the prom-1 peptides described herein can be used to stimulate neuronal growth, axonal elongation, axonal branching and neurite formation.

In one embodiment, the prom-1 peptide compositions described herein are used as neuroprotective agents to prevent and/or treat diseases associated with neurodegeneration or nerve damage. Neurodegeneration or nerve damage can result from e.g., stroke, heat stress, head and spinal cord trauma, and bleeding that occurs in the brain, the pressure from which eventually causes the death of one or more neurons; often neuronal death begins long before the patient will ever experience any symptoms.

Neurodegeneration can also be a result of neurodegenerative diseases caused by the deterioration of neurons, which over time leads to physical manifestations. Neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system include e.g., intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other degenerative diseases of the basal ganglia; other neurological causes of memory loss or impairment, including Down's syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, prion diseases, cerebral ischemia and stroke; multiple sclerosis; motor neuron disease, such as amyotropic lateral sclerosis; neurological viral disease; post-surgical neurological dysfunction; Huntington's disease; hereditary spastic hemiplegia; primary lateral sclerosis; spinal muscular atrophy; Kennedy's disease; Shy-Drager syndrome; Progressive Supranuclear Palsy; Lewy Body Disease; neuronopathies; dementia; frontotemporal lobe dementia; ischemic disorders (e.g., cerebral or spinal cord infarction and ischemia, chronic ischemic brain disease, and stroke); kaumas (e.g., caused by physical injury or surgery, and compression injuries); affective disorders (e.g., stress, depression and post-traumatic depression); neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy); learning and memory disorders); trigeminal neuralgia; glossopharyngeal neuralgia; Bell's Palsy; myasthenia gravis; progressive muscular atrophy; progressive bulbar inherited muscular atrophy; herniated, ruptured and prolapsed vertebral disk syndromes; cervical spondylosis; plexus disorders; thoracic outlet destruction syndromes; peripheral neuropathies; prophyria; muscular dystrophy; a polyglutamine repeat disease; and spongiform encephalopathy. Ocular neuron disorders can also be treated with peptides as described herein and include, but are not limited to, retina or optic nerve disorders; optic nerve damage and optic neuropathies such as Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy, autosomal dominant optic atrophy, optic neuritis; disorders of the optic nerve or visual pathways; toxic neuropathies and toxic retinopathies; optic atrophy; glaucoma; retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Neuroprotective effects of peptide compositions as described herein can be measured using in vivo or in vitro assays that assess e.g., neuron survival, neuron growth, neurite production, re-innervation, improved behavioral symptoms etc. As one example, in vitro assays of neurite outgrowth can be used to evaluate or monitor the neuroprotective effects of peptide compositions as described herein. In vitro assays of neurite growth are well known in the art and are described in, for example, Jin and Strittmatter, J Neurosci 17:6256-6263 (1997); Fournier et al., Methods Enzymol. 325:473-482 (2000); Zheng et al., Neuron 38:213-224 (2003); Wang et al., Nature 417:941-944 (2002), and Neumann et al., Neuron 34:885-893 (2002), which are incorporated herein by reference. Kits for measuring and quantifying neurite outgrowth are commercially available from e.g., Chemicon (Billerica, Mass.), Millipore (Billerica, Mass.), and Thermo Scientific Pierce Protein Research Products (Rockford, Ill.). Thus, for example, CHEMICON's Neurite Outgrowth Assay Kit (Catalog number NS200) uses microporous filter technology for the quantitative testing of compounds that influence neurite formation and repulsion. With this system, it is possible to analyze biological and pharmacological agents simultaneously, directly evaluate adhesion and guidance receptor functions responsible for neurite extension and repulsion, as well as the analysis of gene function in transfected cells. The microporous filter allows for biochemical separation and purification of neurites and cell bodies for detailed molecular analysis of protein expression, signal transduction processes and identification of drug targets that regulate neurite outgrowth or retraction processes.

In one embodiment, an in vitro neurite cell-based assay involves culturing neuronal cells in the presence and absence of a candidate neuroprotective agent (e.g., a peptide composition as described herein) and determining the change in neurite length. The agent is identified or confirmed as neuroprotective when the neurite length is longer in the presence of the candidate agent than the length of a neurite in untreated cells. Assays will generally be performed in the presence of VEGF, plus and minus a prom-1 peptide composition. In such a cell-based assay, the neuronal cells can be primary neurons, or can, for example, be derived from cells or cell lines, including stem cells, e.g., embryonic stem (ES) cells. In other embodiments, the neurons can, for example, be selected from the group consisting of cerebellar granule neurons, dorsal root ganglion neurons, and cortical neurons. In a typical protocol, primary neurons isolated from rodent neural tissue (including cerebellar granule neurons, dorsal root ganglion neurons, and cortical neurons) are cultured on 96-well tissue culture dishes coated with immobilized whole myelin or myelin associated proteins (e.g., Nogo66, MAG and/or OMgp). Following a defined time in culture, typically 24-48 hours, the neurons are fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and stained with a neuronal marker (anti-class III b-Tubulin, Covance). Image acquisition and analysis are then performed using e.g., the ImageXpress automated imaging system (Molecular Devices). Data are analyzed for changes in maximal or total neurite length per neuron. An enhanced neurite growth response in the presence of a prom-1 peptide as described herein confirms the neurotrophic and/or neuroprotective effects of the given prom-1 peptide.

In vivo assays are known to those of skill in the art and include animal models of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as spinal cord injury models, visual cortex plasticity models, and other models known in the art. Thus, regeneration and plasticity can be studied in models of plasticity following unilateral pyramidotomy and models of traumatic brain injury. Other models of neurodegeneration include mouse models of multiple sclerosis, such as experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), such as the SODI mutant mouse, transgenic animal models of Alzheimer's disease, and animal models of Parkinson's. The beneficial effect of prom-1 peptide administration can be evaluated or confirmed in any of these assays, e.g., by administering VEGF alone or VEGF and a prom-1 peptide as described herein. Alternatively, it is contemplated that prom-1 peptides can act in such assays without exogenously added VEGF or other pro-angiogenic or neurotrophic agents.

In one embodiment, neuronal regeneration is assessed by measuring axonal regeneration in a model of optic nerve crushing (Fischer D, et al., J. Neurosci. 18, 1646 (2004)). In a typical protocol, adult mouse optic nerves are exposed behind the eyeball and crushed. Immediately after injury in adult mice, Gelfoam soaked in a solution containing a peptide described herein or vehicle control is placed against the crush site of the nerve and replaced every three days for the first six days. Animals are sacrificed two weeks post injury followed by transcardial perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde. Optic nerves are cryosectioned at 10 μm and stained with an anti-GAP43 antibody (Chemicon) to detect regenerating axons.

Other in vivo assays include assessing behavioral changes in peptide treated and untreated animal models of neurodegenerative disease. For example, akinesia is measured by noting the latency in seconds (s) of the animals to move all four limbs. In a typical protocol, each animal is initially acclimatized for 5 min on a wooden elevated platform (40 cm×40 cm×30 cm) used for measuring akinesia in mice. Using a stopwatch, the time taken (s) by the animal to move all four limbs is recorded. In general, measurement is stopped once the latency period reaches 180 sec. Another behavioral measure is catalepsy, which refers to the inability of an animal to correct an externally imposed posture. In one embodiment, catalepsy is measured by placing the animal on a flat horizontal surface with both the hind limbs on a square wooden block (3 cm high) and the latency in seconds is measured to move the hind limbs from the block to the ground. A swim test is also used for measuring the extent of neurodegeneration in an animal model. Swim-tests are carried out following treatment of the animals with a peptide and are performed in water tubs. In a typical protocol, the depth of water is about 12 cm and the temperature maintained at around 27° C. Animals are scored for swim tests according to the following scale: 0, hind part sinks with head floating; 1, occasional swimming using hind limbs while floating on one side; 2, occasional floating/swimming only; 3, continuous swimming (see Haobam et al. (2005) Behav. Brain Res. 163, 159-167). The beneficial neuroprotective or neurotrophic effects of prom-1 peptides described herein would be confirmed by a statistically significant improvement in any of the behaviors monitored by these assays.

Clinically, an effective dose of a peptide described herein, or effective regimen, is a combination of dose and dosing that provides for an improvement in the symptoms associated with the particular neuronal or neurodegenerative disease, e.g., Parkinson's disease as assessed by the United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), or the use of surrogate markers. For example, the motor abilities of a Parkinson's patient may improve, where motor symptoms may include motor fluctuations, dyskinesias, off-period dystonia, freezing, and falls. Alternatively, improvement may be assessed by imaging, e.g., by monitoring of dopamine uptake, or striatal neuron function. The standard tool for tracking Parkinson's disease progress and response to therapy is the United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The UPDRS is subdivided into three scales including cognitive and mood aspects, motor aspects, and activities of daily living (ADL). A lower score indicates a better condition than a higher score. The UPDRS is readily available, e.g., see Fahn S, Elton R, Members of the UPDRS Development Committee. In: Fahn S, Marsden C D, Caine D B, Goldstein M, eds. Recent Developments in Parkinson's Disease, Vol 2. Florham Park, N.J. Macmillan Health Care Information 1987, pp 15 3-163, 293-304.

Further clinical tests for assessing neuroprotection can be used in the clinical setting by those of skill in the art of medicine. The treatment of a neurodegeneration as a result of brain injury can be monitored by employing a variety of neurological measurements. For example, a therapeutic response can be monitored by determining if, for example, there is an improvement in the subject's a) maximum daily Glasgow Coma Score; b) duration of coma; 3) daily intracranial pressure (ICP)—therapeutic intensity levels; 4) extent of cerebral edema/mass effect measured on serial CT scans; and, 5) duration of ventilator support. A brief description of each of these measurements is provided below.

The Glasgow Coma Score (index GCS) is a reflection of the depth of impaired consciousness and is best obtained following initial resuscitation (oxygenation, rehydration and support of blood pressure) but prior to use of sedating drugs, neuromuscular blocking agents, or intubation.

The ICP of patients with severe brain injury is often monitored with an intracranial pressure device. Monitoring ICP can provide a measure of cerebral edema. However, inherent variability and analysis complexities due to therapeutic intervention exist. To adjust for these interventions a therapeutic intensity scale was developed. This scale, known as the Therapeutic Intensity Level (TIL), measures treatment aggressiveness for elevated ICPs (Allolio et al. (1995) European Journal of Endocrinology 133(6): 696-700; Adashi et al. (1996) Reproductive endocrinology, surgery, and technology Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven; and, Beers et al. eds. (1999) The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed., Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, N.J.).

The extent of cerebral edema and mass effect can be determined by CT scans. For example, the volume of focal lesions can be measured. Mass lesions, either high-density or mixed-density abnormalities, are evaluated by measuring the area of the abnormality as a region of interest, multiplying the area by the slice thickness, and summing these volumes for contiguous slices showing the same lesion. Each lesion is measured three times, and the mean volume entered. This technique has been shown to be reliable (Garcia-Estrada et al. (1993) Brain Res 628(1-2): 271-8). Intracerebral lesions can be further characterized by location (frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, basal ganglia, or any combination).

In addition to the neurological measurements discussed above, a therapeutic response can also be assayed through various functional and neuropsychological outcomes. Several standardized measures of neuropsychological and functional performance are known. For instance subjects may display an improvement in the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS)/Glasgow Outcome Scale Extender (GOSE) and/or in the Disability Rating Scale (DRS). The Glasgow Outcome Score is one of the most widely used measures of brain injury recovery in the world (Garcia-Estrada et al. (1999) Int J Dev Neurosci 17(2): p. 145-51). Patients are classified into one of five categories: death, persistent vegetative state, severe disability, moderate disability, and good recovery. It is easy to administer and score, and has a high degree of reliability and validity. The Disability Rating Scale (DRS) offers more precision than the GOS for measuring outcomes of moderate brain injury (Goodman et al. (1996) J Neurochem 66(5): 1836-44). The DRS consists of an eight-item rating of arousal and awareness, daily living activities, physical dependence, and employability (Vedder et al. (1999) J Neurochem 72(6):2531-8). Inter-rater reliability for the entire DRS is high (0.97 to 0.98).

The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) can be used to assess physical and cognitive disability. It contains 18 items in the following domains: self-care, sphincter control, mobility, locomotion, communication, and social cognition (Baulieu (1997) Mult Scler 3(2):105-12). The FIM has demonstrated reliability and validity as an outcome measure following moderate and severe TBI (Jung-Testas et al. (1994) J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 48(1):145-54).

The Sickness Impact Profile is one method for measuring self-perceived health status (Schumacher et al. (1995) Ciba Found Symp 191: p. 90-112 and Koenig et al. (1995) Science 268(5216):1500-3). It consists of 136 questions divided into 12 categories: sleep and rest, eating, work, home management, recreation and pastimes, ambulation, mobility, body care and movement, social interaction, alertness, behavior, emotional behavior, and communication. It has been widely used across a variety of diseases and injuries, including head injury (Thomas et al. (1999) Spine 24:2134-8). Baseline SIP scores will reflect pre-injury health status, while follow-up scores will examine post-injury functioning.

An exemplary neurite outgrowth assay is described herein which should not be construed as limiting.

Primary cortical neuronal cells (2×10⁴ per well) are plated on poly-L-lysine coated 24 well dishes and these cells are then treated with either the various analogs of #237 described herein or with parent original peptide #237 (0.25 μg/μL). Cells are then cultured for 2 days.

Neurite outgrowths are evaluated by counting the number of neurites extended from the same number of cells and at the same area. Quantification of neurite outgrowth can be performed by fluorescent staining with a neuron-specific marker (i.e., neurofilament) followed by automated, computational analysis. The number of neurite arborizations in these postmitotic cells is estimated using light microscopy by manually counting the number of projections in a given field containing approximately equivalent number of cells. It is contemplated that certain analogs of peptide #237 described herein would dramatically induce branching and longer neurites compared to cells treated with the parent original peptide, thus indicating that peptide #237 stimulates neuronal growth and regeneration.

In some embodiments, the peptides described herein increases neurite outgrowth in terminally differentiated cortical neurons.

In one embodiment, the compositions described herein are administered to the central nervous system to stimulate neuronal growth (e.g., neurite formation, axonal growth, axonal branching, and nerve tropism).

Bone Repair Assays

Method 1: Each mouse is anesthetized with a ketamine/xylazine anesthetic and an incision is made over the anteromedial surface of the right tibial diaphysis. The muscle is blunt dissected to expose the periosteal surface and a 0.6 mm diameter penetrating hole is created in the medial cortex approximately 1 mm distal from the termination of the tibial tuberosity. Following surgery and/or treatment with the peptides described herein, all animals undergo high resolution micro-CT scan (Scanco vivaCT 40; 11 μm voxel resolution) to confirm the fracture. A second and third micro-CT scan is performed in all animals at 12 and 21 days, respectively to monitor the progress of quantitative analysis of the bone mineral density at the fracture site.

Method 2: Each mouse is anesthetized with a ketamine/xylazine anesthetic and a small incision is made on the dorsolateral side of the thigh and extended over the knee region. A longitudinal incision is made in the patellar tendon, and a 0.5 mm hole is drilled above the tibia tuberosity. A fracture is then made by cutting the shaft of tibia. A fracture generated in this manner is known to heal through both endochondral and intramembranous ossification.

Peptides described herein are mixed with MATRIGEL and injected into the fracture site using a microsyringe. The animals are allowed free, unrestricted weight bearing in cages after recovery from anesthesia. At different time points (3, 4, 7, 14, and 21 d) after the fracture, is analysed for the bone mineral density at the fracture site using a Small Animal Bone Densitometer.

Method 3: Calvaria critical size defect experiment. Critical size calvarial defects (5-mm diameter) are created in rats and locally treated with saline (control) or test agent for 28 days (100 μg/mice/5 days). After 28 days, analysis of bone regeneration is performed by soft x-ray.

Pro-angiogenic Factors

Pro-angiogenic factors are factors that directly or indirectly promote new blood vessel formation. These factors can be expressed and secreted by normal and tumor cells. Pro-angiogenic peptides, variants or derivatives as described herein can be administered in combination with other pro-angiogenic factors including, but not limited to, EGF, E-cadherin, VEGF (particularly VEGF isoforms: VEGF 121, 145 and 165), angiogenin, angiopoietin-1, fibroblast growth factors: acidic (aFGF) and basic (bFGF), fibrinogen, fibronectin, heparanase, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF, BP-3, PDGF, VEGF-A VEGF-C, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), vitronection, leptin, trefoil peptides (TFFs), CYR61 (CCN1) and NOV (CCN3), leptin, midkine, placental growth factor platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), pleiotrophin (PTN), progranulin, proliferin, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), c-Myc, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), stromal derived factor 1 (SDF-1), scatter factor (SF), osteopontin, stem cell factor (SCF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that are inducers of angiogenesis and increased vascularity, eg. CCL2 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and CCL5 (RANTES).

Synthesis of Peptides

Peptides, including variants and derivatives thereof can be chemically synthesized and purified by biochemical methods that are well known in the art such as solid phase peptide synthesis using t-Boc (tert-butyloxycarbonyl) or FMOC (9-flourenylmethloxycarbonyl) protection group described in “Peptide synthesis and applications” in Methods in molecular biology Vol. 298, Ed. by John Howl and “Chemistry of Peptide Synthesis” by N. Leo Benoiton, 2005, CRC Press, (ISBN-13: 978-1574444544) and “Chemical Approaches to the Synthesis of Peptides and Proteins” by P. Lloyd-Williams, et al., 1997, CRC-Press, (ISBN-13: 978-0849391422), Methods in Enzymology, Volume 289: Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis, J. N. Abelson, M. I. Simon, G. B. Fields (Editors), Academic Press; 1st edition (1997) (ISBN-13: 978-0121821906); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,965,343, and 5,849,954 and these are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Solid phase peptide synthesis, developed by R. B. Merrifield, 1963, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85 (14): 2149-2154, was a major breakthrough allowing for the chemical synthesis of peptides and small proteins. An insoluble polymer support (resin) is used to anchor the peptide chain as each additional alpha-amino acid is attached. This polymer support is constructed of 20-50 μm diameter particles which are chemically inert to the reagents and solvents used in solid phase peptide synthesis. These particles swell extensively in solvents, which makes the linker arms more accessible.

Organic linkers attached to the polymer support activate the resin sites and strengthen the bond between the alpha-amino acid and the polymer support. Chloromethyl linkers, which were developed first, have been found to be unsatisfactory for longer peptides due to a decrease in step yields. The PAM (phenylacetamidomethyl) resin, because of the electron withdrawing power of the acid amide group on the phenylene ring, provides a much more stable bond than the classical resin. Another alternative resin for peptides under typical peptide synthesis conditions is the Wang resin. This resin is generally used with the FMOC labile protecting group.

A labile group protects the alpha-amino group of the amino acid. This group is easily removed after each coupling reaction so that the next alpha-amino protected amino acid may be added. Typical labile protecting groups include t-Boc (tert-butyloxycarbonyl) and FMOC. t-Boc is a very satisfactory labile group which is stable at room temperature and easily removed with dilute solutions of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and dichloromethane. FMOC is a base labile protecting group which is easily removed by concentrated solutions of amines (usually 20-55% piperidine in N-methylpyrrolidone). When using FMOC alpha-amino acids, an acid labile (or base stable) resin, such as an ether resin, is desired.

The stable blocking group protects the reactive functional group of an amino acid and prevents formation of complicated secondary chains. This blocking group must remain attached throughout the synthesis and may be removed after completion of synthesis. When choosing a stable blocking group, the labile protecting group and the cleavage procedure to be used should be considered.

After generation of the resin bound synthetic peptide, the stable blocking groups are removed and the peptide is cleaved from the resin to produce a “free” peptide. In general, the stable blocking groups and organic linkers are labile to strong acids such as TFA. After the peptide is cleaved from the resin, the resin is washed away and the peptide is extracted with ether to remove unwanted materials such as the scavengers used in the cleavage reaction. The peptide is then frozen and lyophilized to produce the solid peptide. This is generally then characterized by HPLC and MALDI before being used. In addition, the peptide should be purified by HPLC to higher purity before use.

Commercial peptide synthesizing machines are available for solid phase peptide synthesis. For example, the Advanced Chemtech Model 396 Multiple Peptide Synthesizer and an Applied Biosystems Model 432A Peptide synthesizer are suitable. There are commercial companies that make custom synthetic peptides to order, e.g., Abbiotec, Abgent, AnaSpec Global Peptide Services, LLC. INVITROGEN™ and rPeptide, LLC.

The peptides, variant and derivatives thereof can also be synthesized and purified by molecular methods that are well known in the art. For example, recombinant protein may be expressed in bacteria, mammal, insect, yeast, or plant cells.

Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cloning techniques can be used to clone a nucleic acid encoding a given peptide, using the mRNA coding for the intact full length polypeptide as the template for PCR Cloning. Alternatively, the sense and anti-sense strand of the coding nucleic acid can be made synthetically and then annealed together to form the double-stranded coding nucleic acid. Ideally, restriction enzyme digestion recognition sites should be designed at the ends of the sense and anti-sense strand to facilitate ligation into a cloning vector or other vectors. Alternatively, a 3′A overhang can be include for the purpose of TA-cloning that is well known in the art. Such coding nucleic acids with 3′A overhangs can be easily ligated into the Invitrogen topoisomerase-assisted TA vectors such as pCR®-TOPO, pCR®-Blunt II-TOPO, pENTR/D-TOPO®, and pENTR/SD/D-TOPO®. The coding nucleic acid can be cloned into a general purpose cloning vector such as pUC19, pBR322, pBluescript vectors (STRATAGENE Inc.) or pCR TOPO® from Invitrogen Inc. The resultant recombinant vector carrying the nucleic acid encoding a peptide can then be used for further molecular biological manipulations such as site-directed mutagenesis for variant peptides and/or to reduce the immunogenic properties of the peptide or improve protein expression in heterologous expression systems, or can be subcloned into protein expression vectors or viral vectors for the synthesis of fusion proteins comprising given peptides and protein synthesis in a variety of protein expression systems using host cells selected from the group consisting of mammalian cell lines, insect cell lines, yeast, bacteria, and plant cells.

In one embodiment, the invention provides cells engineered to express nucleic acids encoding peptides of the invention. Preferably, the cells are eukaryotic cells. The nucleic acids are operationally linked to a promoter. The expression construct can further comprise a secretory sequence to assist purification of the peptide from the cell culture medium.

In one embodiment, a sense nucleic acid encoding DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 43) is 5′ GATCGCGTGCAGGCGCAGACCACCACCGTGGTGGCG 3′(SEQ. ID. No. 15) and the complementary anti-sense nucleic acid is 5′ is CGCCACCACGGTGGTGGTCTGCGCCTGCACGCGATC 3′(SEQ. ID. No. 16).

PCR amplified coding nucleic acids or annealed sense and anti-sense nucleic acid with 3′A overhang can cloned into a vector using the TOPO® cloning method in Invitrogen topoisomerase-assisted TA vectors such as pCR®-TOPO, pCR®-Blunt II-TOPO, pENTR/D-TOPO®, and pENTR/SD/D-TOPO®. Both pENTR/D-TOPO®, and pENTR/SD/D-TOPO® are directional TOPO entry vectors which allow the cloning of the DNA sequence in the 5′→3′ orientation into a Gateway® expression vector. Directional cloning in the 5′→3′ orientation facilitate the unidirectional insertion of the DNA sequence into a protein expression vector such that the promoter is upstream of the 5′ ATG start codon of the nucleic acid, thus enabling promoter-driven protein expression. The recombinant vector carrying a peptide coding nucleic acid can be transfected into and propagated in a general cloning E. coli cells such as XL1Blue, SURE (STRATAGENE®) and TOP-10 cells (INVITROGEN™).

It is envisioned that multiple copies of the nucleic acid encoding a peptide described herein can be ligated in tandem such that a polymer of peptides can be expressed. Protease cleavage sites can be designed and included between the nucleic acid to facilitate liberation of each peptide from the polymeric peptide if so desired. Examples of protease cleavage sites include but are not limited to those of enterokinase, chymotrypsin, and thrombin.

Methods of making conservative amino acid substitutions are also well known to one skilled in the art and include but are not limited to site-specific mutagenesis using oligonucleotide primers and polymerase chain reactions. A conservative substitution variant of a peptide of 12 or fewer amino acids (as a non-limiting example, the #237 prom-1 peptide) described herein can have 1 to 4 conservative amino acid substitutions but will, as will all subject peptide variants or derivatives, as the terms are used herein, substantially retain VEGF binding activity. Continuing with the example of the #237 peptide, in one embodiment, the 1-4 substitutions are not located within the 6 C-terminal amino acids of the #237 peptide. In another embodiment, the substitutions do not change the C-terminal alanine and valine amino acids of the #237 peptide. Variant peptides can be expressed and assayed for VEGF-binding activity, regenerative, pro-angiogenic activity, neuroprotective activity, neuronal growth stimulation activity, promotion of cell proliferation activity, and/or promotion of cell migration activity by methods known in the art and/or described herein to verify that these activities specific to each peptide are not abolished by the amino acid substitutions. Variant peptides, as the term is applied herein, have at least 50% of the VEGF-binding activity, regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic activity, promotion of cell proliferation activity, neuroprotective activity, neuronal growth stimulation activity or promotion of cell migration activity of the original parent peptide. It is contemplated that conservative amino acid substitution variants of peptides as described herein can have enhanced activity or superior stability relative to the parent peptide.

Certain silent or neutral missense mutations can also be made in the nucleic acid encoding a peptide by a mutation that does not change the encoded amino acid sequence or the regenerative and/or pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic activities of the encoded peptide. These types of mutations are useful to optimize codon usage which improves recombinant protein expression and production.

Specific site-directed mutagenesis of a nucleic acid encoding a peptide in a vector can be used to create specific amino acid mutations and substitutions. Site-directed mutagenesis can be carried out using, e.g., the QUIKCHANGE® site-directed mutagenesis kit from STRATAGENE® according to manufacture's instructions, or by any method known in the art.

Different expression vectors comprising a nucleic acid that encodes a peptide, variant or derivative as described herein for the expression and purification of the recombinant protein produced from a heterologous protein expression system can be made. Heterologous protein expression systems that use host cells selected from, e.g., mammalian, insect, yeast, bacterial, or plant cells are well known to one skilled in the art. The expression vector should have the necessary 5′ upstream and 3′ downstream regulatory elements such as promoter sequences, ribosome recognition and binding TATA box, and 3′ UTR AAUAAA transcription termination sequence for efficient gene transcription and translation in its respective host cell. The expression vector may have additional sequence such as 6X-histidine (SEQ ID NO: 13), V5, thioredoxin, glutathione-S-transferase, c-Myc, VSV-G, HSV, FLAG, maltose binding peptide, metal-binding peptide, HA and “secretion” signals (Honeybee melittin, α-factor, PHO, Bip), which are incorporated into the expressed recombinant peptide. In addition, there can be enzyme digestion sites incorporated after these sequences to facilitate enzymatic removal of additional sequence after they are not needed. These additional sequences are useful for the detection of peptide expression, for protein purification by affinity chromatography, enhanced solubility of the recombinant protein in the host cytoplasm, for better protein expression especially for small peptides and/or for secreting the expressed recombinant protein out into the culture media, into the periplasm of the prokaryote bacteria, or to the spheroplast of yeast cells. The expression of recombinant peptide can be constitutive in the host cells or it can be induced, e.g., with copper sulfate, sugars such as galactose, methanol, methylamine, thiamine, tetracycline, infection with baculovirus, and (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside) IPTG, a stable synthetic analog of lactose, depending on the host and vector system chosen.

Recombinant peptide can be expressed in a variety of expression host cells e.g., bacteria, such as E. coli, yeast, mammalian, insect, and plant cells such as Chlamydomonas, or even from cell-free expression systems. From a cloning vector, the nucleic acid can be subcloned into a recombinant expression vector that is appropriate for the expression of the peptide in mammalian, insect, yeast, bacterial, or plant cells or a cell-free expression system such as a rabbit reticulocyte expression system. Subcloning can be achieved by PCR cloning, restriction digestion followed by ligation, or recombination reaction such as those of the lambda phage-based site-specific recombination using the GATEWAY® LR and BP CLONASE™ enzyme mixtures. Subcloning should be unidirectional such that the 5′ ATG start codon of the nucleic acid is downstream of the promoter in the expression vector. Alternatively, when the coding nucleic acid is cloned into pENTR/D-TOPO®, pENTR/SD/D-TOPO® (directional entry vectors), or any of the INVITROGEN's GATEWAY® Technology pENTR (entry) vectors, the coding nucleic acid can be transferred into the various GATEWAY® expression vectors (destination) for protein expression in mammalian cells, E. coli, insects and yeast respectively in one single recombination reaction. Some of the GATEWAY® destination vectors are designed for the constructions of baculovirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), retrovirus, and lentiviruses, which upon infecting their respective host cells, permit heterologous expression of the peptide in the host cells. Transferring a gene into a destination vector is accomplished in just two steps according to manufacturer's instructions. There are GATEWAY® expression vectors for protein expression in E. coli, insect cells, mammalian cells, and yeast. Following transformation and selection in E. coli, the expression vector is ready to be used for expression in the appropriate host.

Examples of other expression vectors and host cells are the pET vectors (NOVAGEN), pGEX vectors (Amersham Pharmacia), and pMAL vectors (New England labs. Inc.) for protein expression in E. coli host cells such as BL21, BL21(DE3) and AD494(DE3)pLysS, Rosetta (DE3), and Origami(DE3) (NOVAGEN); the strong CMV promoter-based pcDNA3.1 (INVITROGEN) and pClneo vectors (PROMEGA) for expression in mammalian cell lines such as CHO, COS, HEK-293, Jurkat, and MCF-7; replication incompetent adenoviral vector vectors pAdeno X, pAd5F35, pLP-Adeno-X-CMV (CLONTECH), pAd/CMV/V5-DEST, pAd-DEST vector (INVITROGEN) for adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells; pLNCX2, pLXSN, and pLAPSN retrovirus vectors for use with the RETRO-X™ system from Clontech for retroviral-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells; pLenti4/V5-DEST™, pLenti6/V5-DEST™, and pLenti6.2/V5-GW/lacZ (INVITROGEN) for lentivirus-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells; adenovirus-associated virus expression vectors such as pAAV-MCS, pAAV-IRES-hrGFP, and pAAV-RC vector (STRATAGENE) for adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells; BACpak6 baculovirus (CLONTECH) and pFastBac™ HT (INVITROGEN) for the expression in Spodopera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) and Sf11 insect cell lines; pMT/BiP/V5-His (INVITROGEN) for the expression in Drosophila Schneider S2 cells; Pichia expression vectors pPICZα, pPICZ, pFLDα and pFLD (INVITROGEN) for expression in Pichia pastoris and vectors pMETα and pMET for expression in P. methanolica; pYES2/GS and pYD1 (INVITROGEN) vectors for expression in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recent advances in the large scale expression heterologous proteins in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are described by Griesbeck C. et al. 2006 Mol. Biotechnol. 34:213-33 and Fuhrmann M. 2004, Methods Mol Med. 94:191-5. Foreign heterologous coding sequences are inserted into the genome of the nucleus, chloroplast and mitochondria by homologous recombination. The chloroplast expression vector p64 carrying the versatile chloroplast selectable marker aminoglycoside adenyl transferase (aadA), which confers resistance to spectinomycin or streptomycin, can be used to express foreign protein in the chloroplast. The biolistic gene gun method can be used to introduce the vector in the algae. Upon its entry into chloroplasts, the foreign DNA is released from the gene gun particles and integrates into the chloroplast genome through homologous recombination.

Recombinant protein expression in different host cells can be constitutive or inducible with inducers such as copper sulfate, or sugars such as galactose, methanol, methylamine, thiamine, tetracycline, or IPTG. After the protein is expressed in the host cells, the host cells are lysed to liberate the expressed protein for purification. Methods of lysing the various host cells are featured in “Sample Preparation-Tools for Protein Research” EMD Bioscience and in the Current Protocols in Protein Sciences (CPPS). A preferred purification method is affinity chromatography such as ion-metal affinity chromatograph using nickel, cobalt, or zinc affinity resins for histidine-tagged peptide. Methods of purifying histidine-tagged recombinant proteins are described by Clontech using their TALON® cobalt resin and by NOVAGEN in their pET system manual, 10th edition. Another preferred purification strategy is by immuno-affinity chromatography, for example, anti-Myc antibody conjugated resin can be used to affinity purify Myc-tagged peptide. Enzymatic digestion with serine proteases such as thrombin and enterokinase cleave and release the peptide from the histidine or Myc tag, releasing the recombinant peptide from the affinity resin while the histidine-tags and Myc-tags are left attached to the affinity resin.

Cell-free expression systems are also contemplated. Cell-free expression systems offer several advantages over traditional cell-based expression methods, including the easy modification of reaction conditions to favor protein folding, decreased sensitivity to product toxicity and suitability for high-throughput strategies such as rapid expression screening or large amount protein production because of reduced reaction volumes and process time. The cell-free expression system can use plasmid or linear DNA. Moreover, improvements in translation efficiency have resulted in yields that exceed a milligram of protein per milliliter of reaction mix. An example of a cell-free translation system capable of producing proteins in high yield is described by Spirin A S. et al., Science 242:1162 (1988). The method uses a continuous flow design of the feeding buffer which contains amino acids, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) throughout the reaction mixture and a continuous removal of the translated polypeptide product. The system uses E. coli lysate to provide the cell-free continuous feeding buffer. This continuous flow system is compatible with both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors. As an example, large scale cell-free production of the integral membrane protein EmrE multidrug transporter is described by Chang G. el. al., Science 310:1950-3 (2005).

Other commercially available cell-free expression systems include the Expressway™ Cell-Free Expression Systems (INVITROGEN™) which utilize an E. coli-based in-vitro system for efficient, coupled transcription and translation reactions to produce up to milligram quantities of active recombinant protein in a tube reaction format; the Rapid Translation System (RTS) (Roche Applied Science) which also uses an E. coli-based in-vitro system; and the TNT Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate Systems (PROMEGA) which uses a rabbit reticulocyte-based in-vitro system.

Designing Peptide Mimetics

Methods of designing peptide mimetics and screening of functional peptide mimetics are well known to those skilled in the art. One basic method of designing a molecule which mimics a known protein or peptide is first to identify the active region(s) of the known protein (for example, in the case of an antibody-antigen interaction, one identifies which region(s) of the antibody that permit binding to the antigen), and then searches for a mimetic which emulates the active region. Although the active region of the known protein is relatively small, it is anticipated that a mimetic will be smaller (e.g., in molecular weight) than the protein, and correspondingly easier and cheaper to synthesize and/or have benefits regarding stability or other advantageous pharmacokinetic aspects. Such a mimetic could be used as a convenient substitute for the protein, as an agent for interacting with the target molecule.

For example, Reineke et al. (1999, Nature Biotechnology, 17; 271-275) designed a mimic molecule which mimics a binding site of the interleukin-10 protein using a large library of short synthetic peptides, each of which corresponded to a short section of interleukin 10. The binding of each of these peptides to the target (in this case an antibody against interleukin-10) was then tested individually by an assay technique, to identify potentially relevant peptides. Phage display libraries of peptides and alanine scanning methods can be used.

Other methods for designing peptide mimetics to a particular peptide or protein include those described in European Patent EP1206494, the SuperMimic program by Andrean Goede et al. 2006 BMC Bioinformatics, 7:11; and MIMETIC program by W. Campbell et al., 2002, Microbiology and Immunology 46:211-215. The SuperMimic program is designed to identify compounds that mimic parts of a protein, or positions in proteins that are suitable for inserting mimetics. The application provides libraries that contain peptidomimetic building blocks on the one hand and protein structures on the other. The search for promising peptidomimetic linkers for a given peptide is based on the superposition of the peptide with several conformers of the mimetic. New synthetic elements or proteins can be imported and used for searching. The MIMETIC computer program, which generates a series of peptides for interaction with a target peptide sequence, is taught by W. Campbell et al., 2002. In depth discussion of the topic is reviewed in “Peptide Mimetic Design with the Aid of Computational Chemistry” by James R. Damewood Jr. in Reviews in Computational Chemistry Reviews in Computational Chemistry, January 2007, Volume 9 Book Series: Reviews in Computational Chemistry, Editor(s): Kenny B. Lipkowitz, Donald B. BoydPrint ISBN: 9780471186397 ISBN: 9780470125861 Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; and in T. Tselios, et al., Amino Acids, 14: 333-341, 1998.

Methods for preparing libraries containing diverse populations of peptides, peptoids and peptidomimetics are well known in the art and various libraries are commercially available (see, for example, Ecker and Crooke, Biotechnology 13:351-360 (1995), and Blondelle et al., Trends Anal. Chem. 14:83-92 (1995), and the references cited therein, each of which is incorporated herein by reference; see, also, Goodman and Ro, Peptidomimetics for Drug Design, in “Burger's Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery” Vol. 1 (ed. M. E. Wolff; John Wiley & Sons 1995), pages 803-861, and Gordon et al., J. Med. Chem. 37:1385-1401 (1994), each of which is incorporated herein by reference). One skilled in the art understands that a peptide can be produced in vitro directly or can be expressed from a nucleic acid, which can be produced in vitro. Methods of synthetic peptide and nucleic acid chemistry are well known in the art.

A library of peptide molecules also can be produced, for example, by constructing a cDNA expression library from mRNA collected from a tissue of interest. Methods for producing such libraries are well known in the art (see, for example, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A laboratory manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 1989), which is incorporated herein by reference). Preferably, a peptide encoded by the cDNA is expressed on the surface of a cell or a virus containing the cDNA.

Therapeutic/Prophylactic Administration

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be applied, for example, topically to a tissue. The composition can be applied as a therapeutically effective amount in admixture with pharmaceutical carriers, in the form of topical pharmaceutical compositions. Such compositions include solutions, suspensions, lotions, gels, creams, ointments, emulsions, skin patches, etc. All of these dosage forms, along with methods for their preparation, are known in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic art. Harry's Cosmeticology (Chemical Publishing, 7th ed. 1982); Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Mack Publishing Co., 18th ed. 1990). Typically, such topical formulations contain the active ingredient in a concentration range of 0.1 to 100 mg/ml, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, the terms “pharmaceutically acceptable”, “physiologically tolerable” and grammatical variations thereof, as they refer to compositions, carriers, diluents and reagents, are used interchangeably and represent that the materials are capable of administration to or upon a mammal without the production of undesirable physiological effects such as nausea, dizziness, gastric upset and the like. A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier will not promote the raising of an immune response to a subject peptide with which it is admixed, unless so desired. The preparation of a pharmacological composition that contains active ingredients dissolved or dispersed therein is well understood in the art and need not be limited based on formulation. For gene therapy using viral expression, the pharmaceutical compositions can be in the form of an adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, or lentivirus. The dosage ranges for gene therapy can be from 1×10⁶ to 10¹⁴ particles per application. Other desirable ingredients for use in such preparations include preservatives, co-solvents, viscosity building agents, carriers, etc. The carrier itself or a component dissolved in the carrier may have palliative or therapeutic properties of its own, including moisturizing, cleansing, or anti-inflammatory/anti-itching properties. Penetration enhancers may, for example, be surface active agents; certain organic solvents, such as di-methylsulfoxide and other sulfoxides, dimethyl-acetamide and pyrrolidone; certain amides of heterocyclic amines, glycols (e.g., propylene glycol); propylene carbonate; oleic acid; alkyl amines and derivatives; various cationic, anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surface active agents; and the like.

Topical administration of a pharmacologically effective amount can utilize transdermal delivery systems well known in the art. An example is a dermal patch. Alternatively the biolistic gene gun method of delivery may be used. The gene gun is a device for injecting cells with genetic information, originally designed for plant transformation. The payload is an elemental particle of a heavy metal coated with plasmid DNA. This technique is often simply referred to as biolistics. Another instrument that uses biolistics technology is the PDS-1000/He particle delivery system. The isolated peptide expression vector, and/or gene therapy viral expression vectors can be coated on minute gold particles, and these coated particles are “shot” into biological tissues under high pressure. An example of the gene gun-based method is described for DNA based vaccination of cattle by Loehr B. I. et al. J. Virol. 2000, 74:6077-86.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions described herein can be administered directly by injection, for example to the affected tissue, such as organ, muscle or tissue, or wound. A preferred formulation is sterile saline or Lactated Ringer's solution. Lactated Ringer's solution is a solution that is isotonic with blood and intended for intravenous administration.

In another embodiment, the peptide compositions are administered such as the agents come into contact with a subject's nervous system. In one embodiment, the active agents are administered by introduction into the cerebrospinal fluid of the subject. In certain aspects, the peptide composition is introduced into a cerebral ventricle, the lumbar area, or the cistema magna. In another aspect, the peptide composition is introduced locally, such as into the site of nerve or cord injury, into a site of pain or neural degeneration, or intraocularly to contact neuroretinal cells. In one embodiment, the peptide composition described herein is administered to the subject in the period from the time of, for example, an injury to the CNS up to about 100 hours after the injury has occurred, for example within 24, 12, or 6 hours from the time of injury.

In another embodiment of the invention, the peptide composition is administered into a subject intrathecally. As used herein, the term “intrathecal administration” is intended to include delivering a peptide composition directly into the cerebrospinal fluid of a subject, by techniques including lateral cerebroventricular injection through a burrhole or cistemal or lumbar puncture or the like (described in Lazorthes et al., 1991, and Ommaya A. K., 1984, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). The term “lumbar region” is intended to include the area between the third and fourth lumbar (lower back) vertebrae. The term “cisterna magna” is intended to include the area where the skull ends and the spinal cord begins at the back of the head. The term “cerebral ventricle” is intended to include the cavities in the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord. Administration of an active compound to any of the above mentioned sites can be achieved by direct injection of the active compound formulation or by the use of infusion pumps. Implantable or external pumps and catheter may be used.

An additional means of administration to intracranial tissue involves application of compounds of the invention to the olfactory epithelium, with subsequent transmission to the olfactory bulb and transport to more proximal portions of the brain. Such administration can be by nebulized or aerosolized preparations. In a further embodiment, ophthalmic peptide compositions are used to prevent or reduce damage to retinal and optic nerve head tissues, as well as to enhance functional recovery after damage to ocular tissues. Ophthalmic conditions that may be treated include, but are not limited to, retinopathies (including diabetic retinopathy and retrolental fibroplasia), macular degeneration, ocular ischemia, and glaucoma. Other conditions to be treated with the methods described herein include damage associated with injuries to ophthalmic tissues, such as ischemia reperfusion injuries, photochemical injuries, and injuries associated with ocular surgery, particularly injuries to the retina or optic nerve head by exposure to light or surgical instruments. The ophthalmic compositions may also be used as an adjunct to ophthalmic surgery, such as by vitreal or subconjunctival injection following ophthalmic surgery. The peptide compositions may be used for acute treatment of temporary conditions, or may be administered chronically, especially in the case of degenerative disease. The ophthalmic peptide compositions may also be used prophylactically, especially prior to ocular surgery or noninvasive ophthalmic procedures or other types of surgery.

In one embodiment, the active compound is administered to a subject for an extended period of time to produce optimum axonal outgrowth. Sustained contact with the peptide composition can be achieved by, for example, repeated administration of the peptide composition over a period of time, such as one week, several weeks, one month or longer. More preferably, the pharmaceutically acceptable formulation used to administer the active compound provides sustained delivery, such as “slow release” of the active compound to a subject. For example, the formulation may deliver the active peptide composition for at least one, two, three, or four weeks after the pharmaceutically acceptable formulation is administered to the subject. Preferably, a subject to be treated in accordance with the methods described herein is treated with the active peptide composition for at least 30 days (either by repeated administration or by use of a sustained delivery system, or both).

As used herein, the term “sustained delivery” is intended to include continual delivery of the active peptide composition in vivo over a period of time following administration, preferably at least several days, a week, several weeks, one month or longer. Sustained delivery of the active compound can be demonstrated by, for example, the continued therapeutic effect of the peptide composition over time (such as sustained delivery of the agents can be demonstrated by continued axonal growth in CNS neurons in a subject). Alternatively, sustained delivery of the peptide composition may be demonstrated by detecting the presence of the peptide composition in vivo over time.

Preferred approaches for sustained delivery include use of a polymeric capsule, a minipump to deliver the formulation, a biodegradable implant, or implanted transgenic autologous cells (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,622). Implantable infusion pump systems (such as Infusaid; see such as Zierski, J. et al, 1988; Kanoff, R. B., 1994) and osmotic pumps (sold by Alza Corporation) are available in the art. Another mode of administration is via an implantable, externally programmable infusion pump. Suitable infusion pump systems and reservoir systems are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,562 by Blomquist and U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,058 by Doan, developed by Pharmacia Deltec Inc.

In addition to topical therapy it is contemplated that the pharmaceutical compositions described herein can also be administered systemically in a pharmaceutical formulation. Systemic routes include but are not limited to oral, parenteral, nasal inhalation, intratracheal, intrathecal, intracranial, and intrarectal. The pharmaceutical formulation is preferably a sterile saline or lactated Ringer's solution. For therapeutic applications, the preparations described herein are administered to a mammal, preferably a human, in a pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form, including those that may be administered to a human intravenously as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a period of time, by intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intracerebrospinal, subcutaneous, intra-arterial, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, or inhalation routes. For these uses, additional conventional pharmaceutical preparations such as tablets, granules, powders, capsules, and sprays may be preferentially required. In such formulations further conventional additives such as binding-agents, wetting agents, propellants, lubricants, and stabilizers may also be required. Vector DNA and/or virus can be entrapped in ‘stabilized plasmid-lipid particles’ (SPLP) containing the fusogenic lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), low levels (5-10 mol %) of cationic lipid, and stabilized by a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) coating (Zhang Y. P. et al. Gene Ther. 1999, 6:1438-47). Other techniques in formulating expression vectors and virus as therapeutics are found in “DNA-Pharmaceuticals: Formulation and Delivery in Gene Therapy, DNA Vaccination and Immunotherapy” by Martin Schleef (Editor) December 2005, Wiley Publisher, and “Plasmids for Therapy and Vaccination” by Martin Schleef (Editor) May 2001, are incorporated herein as reference. In one embodiment, the dosage for viral vectors is 1×10⁶ to 10¹⁴ viral vector particles per application per patient.

The compositions can be formulated as a sustained release composition. For example, sustained-release means or delivery devices are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, sustained-release matrices such as biodegradable matrices or semi-permeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules that comprise peptides, variants or derivatives thereof, or expression vectors and/or viral vectors.

A sustained-release matrix, as used herein, is a matrix made of materials, usually polymers, which are degradable by enzymatic or acid/base hydrolysis or by dissolution. Once inserted into the body, the matrix is acted upon by enzymes and body fluids. The sustained-release matrix desirably is chosen from biocompatible materials such as liposomes, polylactides (polylactic acid), polyglycolide (polymer of glycolic acid), polylactide co-glycolide (co-polymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid) polyanhydrides, poly(ortho)esters, polyproteins, hyaluronic acid, collagen, chondroitin sulfate, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, phospholipids, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, polyamino acids, amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, isoleucine, polynucleotides, polyvinyl propylene, polyvinylpyrrolidone and silicone. A preferred biodegradable matrix is a matrix of one of either polylactide, polyglycolide, or polylactide co-glycolide (co-polymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid).

Sustained-release matrices include polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (U. Sidman el al., Biopolymers 22:547-556 (1983)), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (R. Langer et al., J. Biomed Mater. Res. 15:167-277 (1981), and R. Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (R. Langer et al., Id.) or poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Sustained-release compositions also include liposomally entrapped peptides, variants or derivatives, expression vectors, and nucleic acid constructs. Such liposomes can be prepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese Pat. Appl. 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily, the liposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type in which the lipid content is greater than about 30 mol. percent cholesterol, the selected proportion being adjusted for the optimal therapy. Other biodegradable polymers and their use are described, for example, in detail in Brem et al. (1991, J. Neurosurg. 74:441-446).

Methods for preparing liposomes and microspheres for administration to a patient are known to those of skill in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,734, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, describes methods for encapsulating biological materials in liposomes. A review of known methods is provided by G. Gregoriadis, Chapter 14, “Liposomes,” Drug Carriers in Biology and Medicine, pp. 287-341 (Academic Press, 1979).

Microspheres formed of polymers or proteins are well known to those skilled in the art, and can be tailored for passage through the gastrointestinal tract directly into the blood stream. Alternatively, the compound can be incorporated and the microspheres, or composite of microspheres, implanted for slow release over a period of time ranging from days to months. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,906,474, 4,925,673 and 3,625,214, and Jein, TIPS 19:155-157 (1998), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Preferred micro particles are those prepared from biodegradable polymers, such as polyglycolide, polylactide and copolymers thereof. Those of skill in the art can readily determine an appropriate carrier system depending on various factors, including the desired rate of drug release and the desired dosage.

In one embodiment, osmotic mini pumps can be used to provide controlled sustained delivery of the pharmaceutical compositions described herein, through cannulae to the site of interest, e.g., directly into a tissue at the site of needing angiogenesis. The pump can be surgically implanted; for example, continuous administration of endostatin, an anti-angiogenesis agent, by intraperitoneally implanted osmotic pump is described in Cancer Res. 2001 Oct. 15; 61(20):7669-74. Therapeutic amounts of peptides described herein can also be continually administered by an external pump attached to an intravenous needle.

In one embodiment, the formulations are administered via catheter directly to the inside of blood vessels. The administration can occur, for example, through holes in the catheter. In those embodiments wherein the active compounds have a relatively long half life (on the order of 1 day to a week or more), the formulations can be included in biodegradable polymeric hydrogels, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,016 to Hubbell et al. These polymeric hydrogels can be delivered to the inside of a tissue lumen and the active compounds released over time as the polymer degrades. If desirable, the polymeric hydrogels can have microparticles or liposomes which include the active compound dispersed therein, providing another mechanism for the controlled release of the active compounds.

For enteral administration, a composition can be incorporated into an inert carrier in discrete units such as capsules, cachets, tablets or lozenges, each containing a predetermined amount of the active compound; as a powder or granules; or a suspension or solution in an aqueous liquid or non-aqueous liquid, e.g., a syrup, an elixir, an emulsion or a draught. Suitable carriers may be starches or sugars and include lubricants, flavorings, binders, and other materials of the same nature.

A tablet can be made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets can be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine the active compound in a free-flowing form, e.g., a powder or granules, optionally mixed with accessory ingredients, e.g., binders, lubricants, inert diluents, surface active or dispersing agents. Molded tablets can be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered active compound with any suitable carrier.

A syrup or suspension can be made by adding the active compound to a concentrated, aqueous solution of a sugar, e.g., sucrose, to which can also be added any accessory ingredients. Such accessory ingredients may include flavoring, an agent to retard crystallization of the sugar or an agent to increase the solubility of any other ingredient, e.g., as a polyhydric alcohol, for example, glycerol or sorbitol.

Formulations for oral administration can be presented with an enhancer. Orally-acceptable absorption enhancers include surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate, palmitoyl carnitine, Laureth-9, phosphatidylcholine, cyclodextrin and derivatives thereof; bile salts such as sodium deoxycholate, sodium taurocholate, sodium glycochlate, and sodium fusidate; chelating agents including EDTA, citric acid and salicylates; and fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid, lauric acid, acylcarnitines, mono- and diglycerides). Other oral absorption enhancers include benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, CHAPS (3-(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio-1-propanesulfonate), Big-CHAPS (N,N-bis(3-D-gluconamidopropyl)-cholamide), chlorobutanol, octoxynol-9, benzyl alcohol, phenols, cresols, and alkyl alcohols. An especially preferred oral absorption enhancer for the present invention is sodium lauryl sulfate.

Formulations for rectal administration can be presented as a suppository with a conventional carrier, e.g., cocoa butter or Witepsol S55 (trademark of Dynamite Nobel Chemical, Germany), for a suppository base.

The route of administration, dosage form, and the effective amount vary according to the potency of the peptides, variants or derivatives, expression vectors and viral vectors, their physicochemical characteristics, and according to the treatment location. The selection of proper dosage is well within the skill of an ordinarily skilled physician. Topical formulations can be administered up to four-times a day.

In one embodiment, dosage forms include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers that are inherently nontoxic and nontherapeutic. Examples of such carriers include ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, such as human serum albumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetable fatty acids, water, salts, or electrolytes such as protamine sulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose-based substances, and polyethylene glycol. Carriers for topical or gel-based forms of compositions include polysaccharides such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose or methylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylates, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polymers, polyethylene glycol and wood wax alcohols. For all administrations, conventional depot forms are suitably used. Such forms include, for example, microcapsules, nano-capsules, liposomes, plasters, inhalation forms, nose sprays, sublingual tablets, and sustained release preparations. For examples of sustained release compositions, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481A, U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,699, EP 158,277A, Canadian Patent No. 1176565, U. Sidman et al., Biopolymers 22:547 (1983) and R. Langer et al., Chem. Tech. 12:98 (1982). The peptides, variants, or derivatives as described herein will usually be formulated in such vehicles at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml and the viral vector should be in the range of 1×10⁶ to 10¹⁴ viral vector particles per application per patient.

In one embodiment, other ingredients may be added to pharmaceutical formulations, including antioxidants, e.g., ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about ten residues) polypeptides, e.g., polyarginine or tripeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or arginine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including cellulose or its derivatives, glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; and sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation to be used for therapeutic administration is sterile. Sterility is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes (e.g., 0.2 micron membranes). The peptide compositions can be stored in lyophilized form or as an aqueous solution if it is highly stable to thermal and oxidative denaturation. The pH of the composition preparations comprising peptide, variants, or derivatives as described herein typically can be about from 6 to 8.

For therapeutic applications, the appropriate dosage of compositions will depend upon the type of tissue needing angiogenesis, neuroprotection or other beneficial effect of the peptide, variant or derivative, the associated medical conditions to be treated, the severity and course of the medical conditions, whether the compositions are administered for preventative or therapeutic purposes, previous therapy, the patient's clinical history and response to the compositions and the discretion of the attending physician. In addition, in vitro or in vivo assays can optionally be employed to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed will also depend on the route of administration, and the seriousness of the condition being treated and should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each subject's circumstances in view of, e.g., published clinical studies. Suitable effective dosage amounts for topical administration of the peptide compositions described herein range from about 10 micrograms to about 5 grams applied or administered about every 4 hours, although they are typically about 500 mg or less per every 4 hours. In one embodiment the effective dosage for topical administration is about 0.01 mg, 0.5 mg, about 1 mg, about 50 mg, about 100 mg, about 200 mg, about 300 mg, about 400 mg, about 500 mg, about 600 mg, about 700 mg, about 800 mg, about 900 mg, about 1 g, about 1.2 g, about 1.4 g, about 1.6 g, about 1.8 g, about 2.0 g, about 2.2 g, about 2.4 g, about 2.6 g, about 2.8 g, about 3.0 g, about 3.2 g, about 3.4 g, about 3.6 g, about 3.8 g, about 4.0 g, about 4.2 g, about 4.4 g, about 4.6 g, about 4.8 g, or about 5.0 g, every 4 hours. Equivalent dosages may be administered over various time periods including, but not limited to, about every 2 hours, about every 6 hours, about every 8 hours, about every 12 hours, about every 24 hours, about every 36 hours, about every 48 hours, about every 72 hours, about every week, about every two weeks, about every three weeks, about every month, and about every two months. The effective dosage amounts described herein refer to total amounts administered.

For systemic administration, the dosage ranges are typically from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight. In some embodiments, the dosage range is from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 1 g/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 0.5 g/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 0.1 g/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 50 mg/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 25 mg/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 10 mg/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 5 mg/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 1 mg/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 0.1 mg/kg body weight, from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 0.005 mg/kg body weight. Alternatively, in some embodiments the dosage range is from 0.1 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 0.5 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 1 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 1.5 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 2 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 2.5 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 3 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 3.5 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 4 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 4.5 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight, from 4.8 g/kg body weight to 5 g/kg body weight. In one embodiment, the dose range is from 5 μg/kg body weight to 30 μg/kg body weight. Alternatively, the dose range will be titrated to maintain serum levels between 5 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL.

The compositions comprising peptides, variants or derivatives, expression vectors and/or viral vectors are suitably administered to the patient at one time or over a series of treatments. For purposes herein, a “therapeutically effective amount” of a composition comprising peptides, peptide variants or derivatives, fusion protein comprising a peptide described herein, expression vector and/or viral vector is an amount that is effective to either prevent, reduce the likelihood, lessen the worsening of, alleviate, or cure one or more symptoms or indicia of the treated condition.

Administration of the doses recited above can be repeated for a limited period of time. In some embodiments, the doses are given once a day, or multiple times a day, for example but not limited to three times a day. In a preferred embodiment, the doses recited above are administered daily for several weeks or months. The duration of treatment depends upon the subject's clinical progress and responsiveness to therapy. Continuous, relatively low maintenance doses are contemplated after an initial higher therapeutic dose.

Therapeutic compositions containing at least one agent can be conventionally administered in a unit dose. The term “unit dose” when used in reference to a therapeutic composition refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosage for the subject, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required physiologically acceptable diluent, i.e., carrier, or vehicle.

The compositions are administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in a therapeutically effective amount. The quantity to be administered and timing depends on the subject to be treated, capacity of the subject's system to utilize the active ingredient, and degree of therapeutic effect desired. An agent can be targeted by means of a targeting moiety, such as e.g., an antibody or targeted liposome technology. In some embodiments, a peptide as described herein can be targeted to tissue- or tumor-specific targets by using bispecific antibodies, for example produced by chemical linkage of an anti-ligand antibody (Ab) and an Ab directed toward a specific target. To avoid the limitations of chemical conjugates, molecular conjugates of antibodies can be used for production of recombinant bispecific single-chain Abs directing ligands and/or chimeric inhibitors at cell surface molecules. The addition of an antibody to a peptide permits the agent attached to accumulate additively at the desired target site. Antibody-based or non-antibody-based targeting moieties can be employed to deliver a ligand or the inhibitor to a target site. Preferably, a natural binding agent for an unregulated or disease associated antigen is used for this purpose.

Gene Therapy Using Nucleic Acids Coding for Peptides

The principles of gene therapy are disclosed by Oldham, R. K. (In: Principles of Biotherapy, Raven Press, N.Y., 1987), and similar texts. Disclosures of the methods and uses for gene therapy are provided by Boggs, S. S. (Int. J. Cell Clon. 8:80-96 (1990)); Karson, E. M. (Biol. Reprod. 42:39-49 (1990)); Ledley, F. D., In: Biotechnology, A Comprehensive Treatise, volume 7B, Gene Technology, VCH Publishers, Inc. NY, pp 399-458 (1989)), all of which references are incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the peptides can be administered to a patient by any one of several gene therapy techniques known to those of skill in the art. In general, gene therapy can be accomplished by either direct transformation of target cells within the mammalian subject (in vivo gene therapy) or transformation of cells in vitro and subsequent implantation of the transformed cells into the mammalian subject (ex vivo gene therapy).

In one embodiment, DNA encoding the peptides can be introduced into the somatic cells of an animal (particularly mammals including humans) in order to provide a treatment of a disease or condition that responds to the peptide composition. Most preferably, viral or retroviral vectors are employed for this purpose.

Retroviral vectors are a common mode of delivery and in this context are often retroviruses from which viral genes have been removed or altered so that viral replication do not occur in cells infected with the vector. Viral replication functions are provided by the use of retrovirus “packaging” cells that produce the viral proteins required for nucleic acid packaging but that do not produce infectious virus.

Introduction of the retroviral vector DNA into packaging cells results in production of virions that carry vector RNA and can infect target cells, but such that no further virus spread occurs after infection. To distinguish this process from a natural virus infection where the virus continues to replicate and spread, the term transduction rather than infection is often used.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a recombinant lentivirus for the delivery and expression of a peptide in either dividing or non-dividing mammalian cells. The HIV-1 based lentivirus can effectively transduce a broader host range than the Moloney Leukemia Virus (MoMLV)-based retroviral systems. Preparation of the recombinant lentivirus can be achieved using the pLenti4/V5-DEST™, pLenti6/V5-DEST™ or pLenti vectors together with ViraPower™ Lentiviral Expression systems from Invitrogen.

Examples of use of lentiviral vectors for gene therapy for e.g., inherited disorders and various types of cancers, are described in the following references and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety (Klein, C. and Baum, C. (2004). Hematol. J., 5, 103-111; Zufferey, R et al., (1997). Nat. Biotechnol., 15, 871-875; Morizono, K. et al., (2005). Nat. Med., 11, 346-352; Di Domenico, C. et al. (2005), Gene therapy for amucopolysaccharidosis type I murine model with lentiviral-IDUA vector. Hum. Gene Ther., 16, 81-90; Kim, E. Y., et al., (2004). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 318, 381-390).

Non-retroviral vectors also have been used in genetic therapy. One such alternative is the adenovirus (Rosenfeld, M. A., et al., Cell 68:143155 (1992); Jaffe, H. A. et al., Nature Genetics 1:372-378 (1992); Lemarchand, P. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6482-6486 (1992)). Major advantages of adenovirus vectors are their potential to carry large segments of DNA (36 Kb genome), a very high titer (10¹¹ particles/ml), ability to infect non-replicating cells, and suitability for infecting tissues in situ, especially in the lung. The most striking use of this vector so far is to deliver a human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene by intratracheal instillation to airway epithelium in cotton rats (Rosenfeld, M. A., et al., Cell 63:143-155 (1992)). Similarly, herpes viruses may also prove valuable for human gene therapy (Wolfe, J. H. et al., Nature Genetics 1:379-384 (1992)). Of course, any other suitable viral vector can be used for the genetic therapy for the delivery of peptides as described herein.

The viron used for gene therapy can be any viron known in the art including but not limited to those derived from adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), retrovirus, and lentivirus. Recombinant viruses provide a versatile system for gene expression studies and therapeutic applications.

The recombinant AAV virions described above, including the DNA of interest, can be produced using standard methodology, known to those of skill in the art. The methods generally involve the steps of (1) introducing an AAV vector into a host cell; (2) introducing an AAV helper construct into the host cell, where the helper construct includes AAV coding regions capable of being expressed in the host cell to complement AAV helper functions missing from the AAV vector; (3) introducing one or more helper viruses and/or accessory function vectors into the host cell, wherein the helper virus and/or accessory function vectors provide accessory functions capable of supporting efficient recombinant AAV (“rAAV”) virion production in the host cell; and (4) culturing the host cell to produce rAAV virions. The AAV vector, AAV helper construct and the helper virus or accessory function vector(s) can be introduced into the host cell either simultaneously or serially, using standard transfection techniques.

A simplified system for generating recombinant adenoviruses is presented by He TC. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:2509-2514, 1998. The gene of interest is first cloned into a shuttle vector, e.g., pAdTrack-CMV. The resultant plasmid is linearized by digesting with restriction endonuclease Pme I, and subsequently cotransformed into E. coli. BJ5183 cells with an adenoviral backbone plasmid, e.g., pAdEasy-1 of Stratagene's AdEasy™ Adenoviral Vector System. Recombinant adenovirus vectors are selected for kanamycin resistance, and recombination confirmed by restriction endonuclease analyses. Finally, the linearized recombinant plasmid is transfected into adenovirus packaging cell lines, for example HEK 293 cells (E1-transformed human embryonic kidney cells) or 911 (E1-transformed human embryonic retinal cells) (Human Gene Therapy 7:215-222, 1996). Recombinant adenoviruses are generated within the HEK 293 cells.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector for the expression of a peptide, or e.g., a fusion protein including a peptide as described herein. Using rAAV vectors, genes can be delivered into a wide range of host cells including many different human and non-human cell lines or tissues. Because AAV is non-pathogenic and does not elicit an immune response, a multitude of pre-clinical studies have reported excellent safety profiles. rAAVs are capable of transducing a broad range of cell types and transduction is not dependent on active host cell division. High titers, >10⁸ viral particle/ml, are easily obtained in the supernatant and 10¹¹ -10¹² viral particle/ml can be obtained with further concentration. The transgene is integrated into the host genome, so expression is long term and stable.

The use of alternative AAV serotypes other than AAV-2 (Davidson et al (2000), PNAS 97(7)3428-32; Passini et al (2003), J. Virol 77(12):7034-40) has demonstrated different cell tropisms and increased transduction capabilities. With respect to brain cancers, for example, the development of novel injection techniques into the brain, specifically convection enhanced delivery (CED; Bobo et al (1994), PNAS 91(6):2076-80; Nguyen et al (2001), Neuroreport 12(9):1961-4), has significantly enhanced the ability to transduce large areas of the brain with an AAV vector.

Large scale preparation of AAV vectors is made by a three-plasmid cotransfection of a packaging cell line: AAV vector carrying a DNA coding sequence for a peptide, AAV RC vector containing AAV rep and cap genes, and adenovirus helper plasmid pDF6, into 50×150 mm plates of subconfluent 293 cells. Cells are harvested three days after transfection, and viruses are released by three freeze-thaw cycles or by sonication.

AAV vectors are then purified by two different methods depending on the serotype of the vector. AAV2 vector is purified by the single-step gravity-flow column purification method based on its affinity for heparin (Auricchio, A., et al., 2001, Human Gene therapy 12: 71-6; Summerford, C. and R. Samulski, 1998, J. Virol. 72:1438-45; Summerford, C. and R. Samulski, 1999, Nat. Med. 5: 587-88). AAV2/1 and AAV2/5 vectors are currently purified by three sequential CsCl gradients.

Although local administration will most likely be preferred, a peptide, variant or derivative used in the methods described herein can be delivered systemically via in vivo gene therapy. Systemic treatment involves transfecting target cells with the DNA of interest, i.e., DNA encoding a peptide, variants, or derivatives as described herein, expressing the coded peptide/protein in that cell, and the capability of the transformed cell to subsequently secrete the manufactured peptide/protein into the blood.

A variety of methods have been developed to accomplish in vivo transformation including mechanical means (e.g., direct injection of nucleic acid into target cells or particle bombardment), recombinant viruses, liposomes, and receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) (for reviews, see Chang et al., 1994 Gastroenterol. 106:1076-84; Morsy et al., 1993 JAMA 270:2338-45; and Ledley, 1992 J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 14:328-37).

Another gene transfer method for use in humans is the transfer of plasmid DNA in liposomes directly to human cells in situ (Nabel, E. G., et al., Science 249:1285-1288 (1990)). Plasmid DNA should be easy to certify for use in human gene therapy because, unlike retroviral vectors, it can be purified to homogeneity. In addition to liposome-mediated DNA transfer, several other physical DNA transfer methods, such as those targeting the DNA to receptors on cells by conjugating the plasmid DNA to proteins, have shown promise in human gene therapy (Wu, G. Y., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266:14338-14342 (1991); Curiel, D. T., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:8850-8854 (1991)).

Some embodiments of the present invention can be defined as any of the following numbered paragraphs:

-   1. An isolated peptide consisting essentially of the molecule having     the amino acid sequence formula of (B#)(VnQnRnQnTnTcTcVcVcAn)(Z#),     -   wherein Vn, Qn, Rn, Qn, Tn, and An represent the amino acids V,         Q, R, T and A and non-conservative and conservative amino acid         substitutions thereof;     -   wherein Tc and Vc represent the amino acids T and V and         conservative substitutions thereof;     -   wherein B and Z are any of the known 20 amino acids or         derivatives thereof;     -   wherein “#” is a number varying from 0-20 independently for each         of B and Z;     -   and wherein said peptide binds VEGF or enhances VEGF binding to         cells in an in vitro assay. -   2. An isolated peptide consisting essentially of the molecule having     the amino acid sequence of DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) in which the     amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more     hydrophobic than arginine. -   3. The isolated peptide of paragraph 2, wherein the amino acid X in     position 5 of the sequence DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) is selected     from the group consisting of valine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine,     methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, proline, alanine,     glycine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more     hydrophobic than arginine. -   4. The isolated peptide of paragraph 3, wherein the isolated peptide     consisting essentially of the molecule selected from the group     consisting of the amino acid sequence DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 3),     DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 4), DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 5) and     DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 6). -   5. An isolated peptide consisting essentially of the molecule having     the amino acid sequence of DRVQRJTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 48) in which the     amino acid J in position 6 of the isolated peptide is more     hydrophobic than glutamine. -   6. The isolated peptide of paragraph 5, wherein the amino acid J in     position 5 of the sequence DRVQRJTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 48) is selected     from the group consisting of valine, isoleucine, leucine,     methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, proline, alanine,     glycine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more     hydrophobic than glutamine. -   7. The isolated peptide of paragraph 3, wherein the isolated peptide     consisting essentially of the molecule selected from the group     consisting of the amino acid sequence DRVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 1),     RVQRQTTTVVAG (SEQ. ID. NO: 29), VQRQTTTVVAGI (SEQ. ID. NO: 30),     DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 6),     DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), DAVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 39),     DRAQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 40) DRVARQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 41),     DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), DRVQRATTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 11),     DRVQRQATTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 42) and DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ. ID. NO: 47). -   8. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-7 which has regenerative     activity. -   9. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-8 which binds VEGF in an     in vitro assay. -   10. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-9 which promotes     angiogenesis. -   11. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-10 which further     comprises a conservative amino acid substitution and which binds     VEGF in an in vitro assay. -   12. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the peptide     enhances VEGF binding to endothelial cells. -   13. The peptide of any of paragraphs 1-12, wherein the peptide     enhances angiogenesis in the presence of a pro-angiogenic factor. -   14. The isolated peptide of any of paragraphs 1-13, wherein the     peptide enhances cell migration in the presence of a pro-angiogenic     factor. -   15. The isolated peptide of any of paragraphs 1-14, wherein the     peptide has neuronal growth stimulatory activity. -   16. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-15, wherein the peptide     is a cyclic peptide. -   17. The peptide of any one of paragraph 16, wherein the cyclic     peptide has the formula C(Bn)(DRVQXQTTTVVA)(Zn)C (SEQ ID NO: 7) or     AC(Bn)(DRVQXQTTTVVA)(Zn)C (SEQ ID NO: 8) wherein the amino acid X is     any amino acid that is more hydrophobic than arginine, wherein B and     Z are any of the known 20 amino acids or derivative thereof and “n”     is a number varying from 0-20, and wherein (Zn) and (Bn) are used as     spacers in the cyclic peptide. -   18. The peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the peptide     is conjugated to a polymer. -   19. The peptide any one of claims 1-18, wherein there is internal     deletions or insertions of amino acid residues of 1 to 6 amino     acids. -   20. A fusion protein comprising a peptide of any one of paragraphs     1-19, fused to a heterologous peptide or polypeptide. -   21. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier     and a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20. -   22. A method of promoting cell proliferation in a tissue in need     thereof, the method comprising contacting said tissue with a     composition of paragraph 21. -   23. A method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof,     the method comprising contacting said tissue with a composition of     paragraph 21. -   24. The method of paragraph 22 or 23, wherein the method is applied     in the context of promoting wound healing, burns, tissue repair,     bone repair, fertility promotion, myocardial infarction, cardiac     hypertrophy, treatment of erectile dysfunction, modulation of blood     pressure, revascularization after disease or trauma, tissue grafts,     or tissue engineered constructs. -   25. A method of promoting wound healing, the method comprising     contacting said wound with a peptide, cyclic peptide, or fusion     protein of any one of paragraphs 1-20, whereby wound healing is     enhanced relative to wound healing in the absence of said peptide or     fusion protein. -   26. A method of promoting neuroprotection or neural regeneration to     an individual in need of neuroprotection, the method comprising     contacting a neuronal cell with a composition of paragraph 21,     wherein said contacting prevents or delays neuronal cell death     relative to neuronal cell death occurring in the absence of said     contacting, or wherein said contacting promotes nerve regeneration     by stimulating neuronal growth. -   27. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for promoting     cell proliferation in a tissue in need thereof. -   28. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for promoting     angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof. -   29. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for promoting     wound healing. -   30. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for promoting     neuroprotection or neural regeneration to an individual in need of     neuroprotection. -   31. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for the     manufacture of medicament for promoting cell proliferation in a     tissue in need thereof. -   32. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for the     manufacture of medicament for promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in     need thereof. -   33. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for the     manufacture of medicament for promoting wound healing. -   34. Use of a peptide of any one of paragraphs 1-20 for the     manufacture of medicament for promoting neuroprotection or neural     regeneration to an individual in need of neuroprotection.

This invention is further illustrated by the following examples which should not be construed as limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Seven 12-mer Peptides Derived from Prominin-1 Sequence Bind VEGF

Minimum epitope assignment was based on immunostaining of ABIMED spot peptide arrays prepared at the MIT Biopolymers Facility (FIG. 1). Each spot comprised a 12-mer contiguous peptide, and depending on the number of residues in the antigen of interest, 3-residue offset was used to cover the entire antigen sequence. For 3-residue offset, spot 1 contains sequence 1-12, spot 2 contains sequence 3-15, spot 3 contains sequence 6-18, etc. The Cellulose-bound peptide membrane was preincubated with T-TBS blocking buffer (TBS, pH 8.0/0.05% Tween 20 in the presence of blocking reagent; Roche Diagnostics chemiluminescence detection kit 1500694). Subsequently, the peptide array was incubated with hVEGF at a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml for 2 h in T-TBS blocking buffer. After washing three times for 10 min with T-TBS the anti-hVEGF antibody (Quantum Biotechnologies, Montreal), was added to a final concentration of 1 μg/ml in T-TBS blocking buffer for 1 h followed by washing three times for 10 min with T-TBS. Finally, the arrays were incubated with a second anti-mouse IgG peroxidase-labeled antibody (catalog no. A5906, Sigma), which was applied at a concentration of 1 μg/ml in T-TBS blocking buffer for 1 h, followed by washing three times for 10 min with T-TBS. Analysis of peptide-bound VEGF-antibody complexes was done by using a chemiluminescence substrate. Binding of the detection antibody to the peptides was excluded by control incubations with anti-mouse IgG peroxidase-labeled antibody alone (data not shown). The seven highly reacted peptides were commercially synthesized (Genescript Co., NJ) (Table 1) and confirmed for binding to VEGF-A by ELISA and dot blot (data not shown).

Example 2 # Peptide 237 Derived from the Extracellular Domain of Prominin Increases VEGF Binding to Endothelial and B16-F10 Melanoma Cells

In order to characterize the effect of the peptides on VEGF binding to endothelial and melanoma cells, the cells were incubated with various peptides (720 μg/ml) in the presence of I¹²⁵-VEGF (12 ng/ml) (FIG. 2). Peptide #237 increased VEGF binding to endothelial as well to melanoma cells. 10000 cells were incubated in binding buffer containing 20 mM Hepes, 0.1% BSA and I¹²⁵-VEGF (12 ng/ml) for 3 h on ice. Following 3 washings, the radioactive levels were determined by gamma counter. An increase of more than 25 times in I¹²⁵-VEGF binding was observed when peptide #237 was added to both kinds of cells. The other prominin-1 peptides examined had no effect on VEGF binding to endothelial cells.

Example 3 Extracellular Fragments of Prominin-1 Affect Endothelial and Melanoma Cell Proliferation

Cell proliferation was assessed using an assay based on the cleavage of the tetrazolium salt WST-1 to formazan by cellular mitochondrial dehydrogenases. Aliquot of 50,000 micro-vessel endothelial cells (FIG. 3A) or F10-B16 melanoma cells (FIG. 3B) were added to each well of a 96-well plate in EGM medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. After cells had attached to the 96-well tray, the cells were washed, and high serum medium was replaced with starvation medium overnight. All wells were rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline. Negative control wells received starvation medium, and positive control wells received full medium. The cells were treated with the different peptides (100 ug/ml) to determine their effect on cell proliferation. Cells were allowed to incubate for 24 h in the presence of the respective peptide. At this time, the WST-1 reagent, was applied for 4 h to measure cell proliferation. The plates were read on OD=450 nm, and data were presented as a percentage of negative control proliferation, with p<0.05 being significant. Expansion in the number of viable cells results in an increase in the overall activity of the mitochondrial dehydrogenases in the wells. As shown in FIG. 5, human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and B16-F10 melanoma cell proliferation were significantly increased by incubation with cellular fragments of Prominin-1 (p<0.05).

Example 4 Prominin Peptide (#237) Increases Angiogenesis In Vivo when Added to the VEGF Pellet During Corneal Micropocket Assay

In order to evaluate the modulating effect of peptide #237 on the angiogenesis process, a corneal micropocket assay was performed. Two kinds of pellets were created, both containing 160 ng carrier-free recombinant human VEGF 165 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.), one of which contains 1.3 ug of #237 peptide. The pellets were implanted into micropockets created in the cornea of two groups of anesthetized mice (n=4). Through the use of standardized slow-release pellets, a predictable angiogenic response is generated over the course of 5 days and then quantified. The area of neovascularization was calculated as vessel area, which is calculated as the product of vessel length measured from the limbus and clock hours around the cornea, using the following equation: vessel area (mm²)=[clock hours×vessel length (mm)×0.2 mm]. An increase of 53% was observed in the vessel density in the treated eyes (pellet with peptide #237) versus the control (pellet without peptide #237) (FIG. 4). The in vivo experiment confirms that the peptide stimulates cell proliferation, and is therefore a good candidate to induce angiogenesis.

Example 5 Prominin Peptide (#237) Increases Endothelial Cell Migration In Vivo when Combined with VEGF as Tested in the Matrigel Assay

Two groups of 8-week-old C57bl mice were anaesthetized and injected subcutaneously with either 0.5 ml ice-cold Matrigel supplemented with 500 ng VEGF (0.5 μg/ml), or with Matrigel containing VEGF and Prominin fragment-#237 (180 μg). On day 6, animals were sacrificed and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was used for determination of the matrigel liberated cells. In order to distinguish the endothelial cells from hematopoietic cells, the cells were incubated with two antibodies CD31-PE and CD45-APC which are specific to endothelial cells and hematopoietic cells respectively. The left upper panel reflects the number of the endothelial cells which are the cells that builds vessels. As shown in FIG. 5, six times more endothelial cells (0.42% versus 0.07%) (upper left panel) were observed when the 180 ug of #237 peptide was added to the VEGF. This observation confirms that #237 is a potent angiogenic factor which has a synergistic effect on endothelial cell migration induced by VEGF.

Example 6 Prominin Peptide (#237) Increases Neovascularization in a Wound Healing Model

Microvascular in-growth into damaged tissue is an essential component of the normal healing process. In fact, wound therapy is often aimed at promoting neovascularization. The model consists of wounding the dorsal aspect of the ear of a nude mouse. A circular punch was used to create a standardized wound on a nude mouse ear. Constant diameter of wound is given by the size of the punch (2.25 mm), and the ears were treated daily with plain matrigel (FIG. 6A) or matrigel containing peptide #237 (180 μg) (FIG. 6B) for 5 days. Matrigel solution had minimal effect on neovascularization, but in contrast, the matrigel containing peptide #237 significantly increased the neovascularization around the ear wound site (X4). In order to evaluate the wound neovascularization, the mice were inoculated by dextran-FITC which specifically labeled the endothelial cells, immediately after anesthetizing them. The ear/wound was observed and as shown in FIG. 6, the angiogenesis around the circular wound among the treated mice (the #237 peptide) was greater than among the untreated mice.

Example 7 Circularized Peptides of Ala 5 (SEQ. ID. No. 3) of #237

Provided herein are exemplary circular peptides that are contemplated for use with the methods and compositions described herein. The amino acids GG are added prior to the cysteine residue to permit disulfide bridge formation.

Exemplary sequences for circular peptides of peptide Ala-5 of #237 include, but are not limited to, ACGGDRVQAQTTTVVAGGC (SEQ ID NO: 17); ACGGDRVQAQTTTVVAGGGGGGC (SEQ ID NO: 18); and CGGGGGGDRVQAQTTTVVAGGCA (SEQ ID NO: 19).

Further cyclic peptides for e.g., peptide Ala-5 can be designed using the following exemplary formulas. These formulas permit a peptide to be converted into a cyclic peptide by the formation of a disulfide bond between the two cysteines. Exemplary formulas for designing cyclic peptides of peptide Ala-5 or variant comprising conservative amino acid substitutions as the term is used herein are shown below:

(SEQ ID NO: 20) CB(DRVQAQTTTVVA)ZC, (SEQ ID NO: 21) ACB(DRVQAQTTTVVA)ZC,

wherein B or Z are each independently 0-20 amino acids used as spacers. In the specific examples for peptide Ala-5 shown above (SEQ ID NO: 17; SEQ ID NO: 18; SEQ ID NO: 19) these spacer amino acids are G.

Example 8 Various Peptides Derived from Peptide #237 Show that the Effect of #237 on VEGF Binding to Endothelial Cells is Sequence Dependent

Each of these peptides were tested for VEGF binding to endothelial cells and compared to peptide #237 at varying dilutions. The results are indicated herein in FIG. 7.

Example 9 Peptide #237 Promotes Wound Healing

In addition to increasing angiogenesis, peptide #237 also accelerates wound healing. In order to evaluate the effect of the peptide on wound healing, ears of five mice were wounded using a circular punch, which creates a wound measuring 1 mm. The ears of wounded mice were treated daily with either MATRIGEL™ or MATRIGEL™ containing #237 peptide for 14 days. As shown in FIG. 8, the wound area of the treated mice was significantly smaller than among the untreated mice on day 14, indicating that #237 promotes wound healing in a mouse model.

Example 10 Alanine Substituted Peptide #237 at Position 5 (Ala 5) Enhanced VEGF Binding by Endothelial Cells

The inventors also investigated which amino acid residues in peptide #237 are important for the various angiogenic and VEGF related binding activity described herein. To achieve this, the inventors singly changed each of the 12 amino acid residues in peptide #237 to alanine and performed experiments examining the effect of the alanine substitution at various positions on endothelial cell binding to VEGF. A total of 12 alanine substituted peptides were made and tested: Ala-1, Ala-2, Ala-3, Ala-4, Ala-5, Ala-6, Ala-7, Ala-8, Ala-9, Ala-10, Ala-11, Ala-12, (SEQ. ID. NOS. 38-41, 3, 11, 42-47) wherein the number indicate the position where the alanine substitution occurred. In addition, a “flip #237” peptide having the sequence AAVVTTTQRQVRD (SEQ. ID. NO. 22) was also made and studied.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show that alanine substitutions showed a marked increase in activity when the substitution was made at position 5. Ala-5 peptide has the arginine at position 5 replaced by alanine. The ability of endothelial cells to bind VEGF was increased by more than twice compared to the treatment with the original #237.

Example 11 Peptide #237 has Enhanced Angiogenesis in Mouse Hind Limb Ischemia Model Experiment

The angiogenic effects of peptide #237 were investigated using the mouse hind limb ischemia model. The experiment procedure was done in two groups of mice: Group A comprises mice that have both of their femoral arteries ligated to simulate ischemia, whereas just the left femoral was ligated in group B mice. Group A mouse was treated by direct injection of either the saline or peptide to the ischemic site (800 ug). Mice from group B were treated systemically by pumps that were implanted to the mouse's back one day prior the procedure. The peptide and the control (saline) were released slowly from the pump in a rate of 0.5 ug/hour. The blood flow was analyzed by Laser Doppler perfusion imagery machine for each mouse before and immediately after the procedure to evaluate if the femoral was ligated properly. Lighter shades of grey indicate presence of good blood flow while dark shades or black indicate little or no blood flow.

As shown in FIG. 10, local injection and slow release of the #237 peptide via pump provided complete recovery of the blood flow in the ischemic site after 48 h, as indicated by the white areas at 48 h compared to time zero.

Example 12 Peptide #237 Improves Blood Flow in Ischemic Limbs in the Mouse

The therapeutic activity on ischemic tissues in mice of #237 (DRVQRQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 1) and analog #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO:4) was demonstrated using a mouse hind limb ischemia model in which ischemia was induced by femoral artery ligation in one leg. Mice were ligated in one of their femoral arteries (the right limb) to simulate hind limb ischemia. The blood flow was analyzed by machine for each mouse before and immediately after the procedure to evaluate if the femoral was ligated properly. Blood flow was compared with the non-operated leg by a laser Doppler imager. Peptide #237 or analog #237-V administered intraperitoneally immediately following femoral artery occlusion significantly improves limb perfusion, within three to six days. The ischemic limb is seen as the limb on left side in the laser Doppler images.

Representative evaluation of the ischemic (left side of each image) and non-ischemic (right side of each image) hind limbs, immediately after, and on days 4 and 14 after surgery. In FIG. 11, the white areas indicate normal perfusion with normal blood circulation and black areas indicate no blood flow in the ischemic left hind limb. Mice administered with #237 showed increased blood flow recovery compared to the saline treated mice. Dark shaded areas within the white areas located at the distal ends of the limbs indicate extremely good blood flow.

The blood flow of the ischemic hind limb is expressed as the ratio between the perfusion of the ischemic limb and the uninjured limb in FIG. 12. On average, the mice administered with peptide #237 and #237-V showed about 30-40% increased perfusion compared to the saline treated mice.

Example 13 Peptide #237 Analogs Improve Wound Healing in Mice

Wound healing experiments were conducted as described in Example 9, except several different peptide #237 analogs were used: #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), #237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 5) and #237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 6).

FIG. 13 shows that peptide #237-V (DRVQVQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), #237-Q (DRVQQQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 5) and #237-M (DRVQMQTTTVVA) (SEQ. ID. NO: 6) cause significantly more wound closure than the control (peptide #237, SEQ. ID. NO: 1) after intraperitoneal treatment in the C57BL mouse would healing model.

TABLE 1 Stimulate VEGF Endo- ↑angio- ↑Endo- Peptide Seq. binding thelial genesis thelial Sequence Amino acid Sequence of ID. VEGF in other Cell in cell Number peptide No. binding cells growth VEGF migrate #3 LCGNSFSGGQPS 23 + -(1) +/+ #42 PNIIPVLDEIKS 24 + -(1) +/+ #77 LCGVCGYDRHAT 25 + -(1) +/ #122 ITNNTSSVIIEE 26 + -(1) #237 DRVQRQTTTVVA 1 + +(2) +/+ + + #640 CSFAYDLEAKANSLPPGNL 27 + -(1) +/+ RN 

What is claimed:
 1. An isolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) DRVQRJTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 48), wherein the amino acid J in position 6 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than glutamine; (ii) RVQRQTTTVVAG (SEQ ID NO: 29); (iii) VQRQTTTVVAGI (SEQ ID NO: 30); (iv) DAVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 39); (v) DRAQRQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 40); (vi) DRVARQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 41); (vi) DRVQRQATTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 42); (ix) and DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ ID NO: 47); and (x) DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2), wherein the amino acid X in position 5 of the isolated peptide is more hydrophobic than arginine; wherein the isolated peptide is no more than 50 amino acids in length and does not comprise a native amino acid sequence of prominin-1, and wherein the isolated peptide does not consist of the amino acid sequence of RVQRQTTTVVAG (SEQ ID NO: 29) or VQRQTTTVVAGI (SEQ ID NO: 30).
 2. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide binds VEGF in an in vitro assay.
 3. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide enhances VEGF binding to endothelial cells.
 4. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide is a cyclic peptide.
 5. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide is conjugated to a polymer.
 6. A fusion protein comprising a peptide of claim 1, fused to a heterologous peptide or polypeptide.
 7. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a peptide of claim
 1. 8. A method of promoting cell proliferation in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting said tissue with a composition of claim
 7. 9. A method of promoting angiogenesis in a tissue in need thereof, the method comprising contacting said tissue with a composition of claim
 7. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the method is applied in the context of promoting wound healing, burns, tissue repair, bone repair, fertility promotion, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, treatment of erectile dysfunction, modulation of blood pressure, revascularization after disease or trauma, tissue grafts, or tissue engineered constructs.
 11. A method of promoting wound healing, the method comprising contacting said wound with a peptide, cyclic peptide, or fusion protein of claim 1, whereby wound healing is enhanced relative to wound healing in the absence of said peptide or fusion protein.
 12. A method of promoting neuroprotection or neural regeneration in an individual in need of neuroprotection, the method comprising contacting a neuronal cell with a composition of claim 6, wherein said contacting prevents or delays neuronal cell death relative to neuronal cell death occurring in the absence of said contacting, or wherein said contacting promotes nerve regeneration by stimulating neuronal growth.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the method is applied in the context of promoting wound healing, burns, tissue repair, bone repair, fertility promotion, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, treatment of erectile dysfunction, modulation of blood pressure, revascularization after disease or trauma, tissue grafts, or tissue engineered constructs.
 14. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the isolated peptide is selected from the group consisting of DAVQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 39), DRAQRQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 40) DRVARQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 41), DRVQRATTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 44), DRVQRQATTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 42), DRVQRQTTTVVG (SEQ. ID. NO: 47), DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 3), DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 4), DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 5), and DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 6).
 15. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid X in position 5 of the sequence DRVQXQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 2) is selected from the group consisting of valine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, proline, alanine, glycine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than arginine.
 16. The isolated peptide of claim 15, wherein the isolated peptide comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of DRVQAQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 3), DRVQVQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 4), DRVQQQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 5) and DRVQMQTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 6).
 17. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid J in position 6 of the sequence DRVQRJTTTVVA (SEQ ID NO: 48) is selected from the group consisting of valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, cysteine, proline, alanine, glycine or a variant of any of these amino acids which is more hydrophobic than glutamine.
 18. The isolated peptide of claim 17, wherein the isolated peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of DRVQRATTTVVA (SEQ. ID. NO: 44). 